30.01.2026 13:40
It has been announced that all assets of Veysel Şahin, known as the "betting baron," who was found to have gained unfair profits during the MASAK investigations related to illegal betting, have been seized. Şahin's crypto assets, valued at approximately 460 million Euros, held with global companies, were also among the frozen accounts. The process of returning this money to Turkey is ongoing.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that it has determined Veysel Şahin was operating illegal betting through illegal betting platforms and providing infrastructure support to these platforms. It was established that Şahin gained unfair profits from these activities during the investigation.
ALL ASSETS SEIZED By the instruction of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a decision was made to seize all assets belonging to Veysel Şahin ex officio. In this context, Şahin's movable and immovable properties, shares in companies and partnerships, deposits and investment accounts in banks and financial institutions, as well as assets in the cryptocurrency market and exchanges were frozen.
RETURN PROCESS OF CRYPTO ASSETS WORTH 460 MILLION EUROS INITIATED According to the information in the investigation file, approximately 460 million euros worth of cryptocurrency assets belonging to Veysel Şahin held in global companies were also among the frozen accounts. It was reported that the return process of these assets to Turkey is ongoing through the international company where the account is held.
CAUGHT IN MASAK EXAMINATION In a statement made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; "Our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, through the Smuggling, Narcotics, and Economic Crimes Investigation Bureau, conducted an investigation regarding the actions of the suspect Veysel Şahin, which manifested as operating illegal betting through illegal betting platforms and providing infrastructure support to these platforms, under the scope of the Law No. 7258 and the crimes of Money Laundering of Proceeds of Crime; based on the findings revealed in MASAK analyses, it was determined that the suspect gained unfair profits from the actions attributed to him, and in order to prevent the laundering of assets deemed to be obtained from the crime, movable and immovable properties, shares in companies and partnerships, deposits and investment accounts in banks and financial institutions, and assets in the cryptocurrency market and exchanges belonging to the suspect were seized ex officio by our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the seizure decision was approved by the Peace Criminal Court. As a result of our efforts in this context, the 460 million euros worth of cryptocurrency assets belonging to the suspect Veysel Şahin have been frozen by the global company where the account is held, and the return processes to our country are ongoing. The investigation processes are being carried out with thoroughness and determination." was stated.
Veysel Şahin WHO IS VEYSEL ŞAHİN? Veysel Şahin, known as an illegal betting baron, was arrested during the Handicap Operation in 2017 and received a sentence of 10 years and 6 months in prison. Originally from Sivas, Veysel Şahin was captured and taken into custody during an operation while he was returning to Sivas from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) after visiting his father in 2017.
In 2018 and on March 2, 2023, Şahin was given controversial release decisions twice, but these decisions were canceled before his release. He was released on April 14, 2023, after completing his sentence.
Immediately after his release, on May 6, 2023, Şahin was sentenced to a total of 21 years and 8 months in prison and a judicial fine of 1 million 666 thousand 600 TL for the crimes of "Violation of Law No. 7258", "Establishing an Organization for the Purpose of Committing Crimes", and "Money Laundering of Proceeds of Crime" in another case he was being tried. The sentence Şahin received in this case is pending in the appellate court. While his cases are ongoing, Şahin left Turkey.
Veysel Şahin is also known as a former partner of the casino owner Halil Falyalı, who was killed in a gun attack in the TRNC. Falyalı's name was associated with many illegal activities.