22.10.2026 17:21
A striking claim has been made about Emir Sarıgül, the son of Mustafa Sarıgül, who was arrested in a money laundering investigation. A secret witness who testified in the investigation claimed that Mustafa Sarıgül married his son Emir Sarıgül to Fatma Altınbaş in 2008 in order to legitimize the irregular income he obtained during his mayorship. It was alleged that the Altınbaş family had small jewelry shops in Cyprus and the Grand Bazaar at that time, and that Sarıgül used this to introduce his money into the system.
In the investigation coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office within the scope of the crime of "laundering assets derived from crime," Abdurrahman Emir Sarıgül, for whom a detention order had been issued, had recently surrendered to the Financial Crimes Branch Directorate. Sarıgül, whose statement procedures at the police station were completed, was referred to the Istanbul Justice Palace in Çağlayan. Following his procedures at the prosecutor's office, Sarıgül was referred to the Criminal Magistrates' Court with a request for his arrest. After his statement was taken, Sarıgül was arrested by the Criminal Magistrates' Court and sent to prison.
MONEY LAUNDERING ALLEGATION CONCERNING MUSTAFA SARIGÜL
A striking allegation was put forward regarding Emir Sarıgül. According to the statement of the secret witness who testified within the scope of the investigation, Mustafa Sarıgül used his son Emir Sarıgül to launder money.
"HE MARRIED HIS SON EMİR SARIGÜL TO LEGITIMIZE IRREGULAR INCOMES"
In his statement, journalist Emrullah Erdinç said the following regarding the matter: "Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the secret witness who testified on October 17, 2026 made striking allegations regarding the marriage and divorce process of Mustafa Sarıgül's son Emir Sarıgül and Fatma Altınbaş.
According to the secret witness's statement: Mustafa Sarıgül ensured that his son Emir Sarıgül married Fatma Altınbaş in 2008 in order to legitimize the irregular incomes he was alleged to have obtained during his term as Mayor of Şişli.
"HE PUT THE MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM THROUGH HIS IN-LAWS"
The witness alleged that at that time the Altınbaş family had small jewelry shops in Cyprus and the Grand Bazaar, and that Mustafa Sarıgül introduced his money into the system through this family. He also linked the Altınbaş family's rapid rise to a large holding structure to this allegation.
"600 MILLION EUROS FROM THE ALTINBAŞ FAMILY TO MUSTAFA SARIGÜL"
The secret witness alleged that during the divorce process of Emir Sarıgül and Fatma Altınbaş in 2019, 600 million euros were given from the Altınbaş family to Mustafa Sarıgül.
According to the witness, this money was not paid in cash in a single transaction. A meeting was held with the participation of businesspeople regarding how the payment would be made and how the amount of 600 million euros would be determined."