28.09.2025 18:20
Kemal Can, the Chairman of the Board, has been arrested as part of an investigation into the establishment of a criminal organization through companies within Can Holding, with allegations of crimes such as 'qualified fraud' and 'tax evasion' being committed through the organization.
The chairman of the board of directors of Can Holding, Kemal Can, who was detained in the investigation against the holding, has been arrested.
The investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is ongoing against Can Holding officials for "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "managing," "being a member of the established organization," "laundering assets obtained from the crime," and "qualified fraud."
The procedures of Kemal Can, the chairman of the board of directors of Can Holding, who was detained as part of the investigation, have been completed at the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command.
Can was referred to the peace criminal court with a request for his arrest for "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "managing," and "concealing the illicit source of assets."
The court decided to arrest the suspect for the crimes attributed to him.
- Investigation
It was claimed that an organization was established for the purpose of committing crimes through companies operating under Can Holding, and that various actions were carried out through this organization, including "qualified fraud," "tax evasion," "depositing income of unknown origin into company accounts," and "laundering income obtained from the crime."
The investigation was initiated based on reports from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and examination reports prepared by financial audit units.
It was alleged that significant amounts of money of unknown origin were transferred through companies operating under Can Holding, and that these funds were transferred between various companies to hide their traces, with tax liabilities being reduced through unbilled transactions and the preparation of fake documents.
It was claimed that the profit-oriented criminal organization established under the holding structure operated under the leadership of Kemal Can and Mehmet Şakir Can, complicating oversight and monitoring mechanisms by establishing numerous companies in the same fields of activity, making changes in the boards of directors, distributing responsibility among organization members, and aiming to evade legal sanctions.
Additionally, it was alleged that cash capital increases were made in companies that had no commercial activity, with the debts to partners being shown as the source of these capital increases, and that these debts did not reflect reality. It was claimed that the amounts seen in the debts to partners account were reinvested in the company under the "Asset Peace Law" numbered 7256, and that these transactions were contrary to the purpose of the law, constituting the inclusion and laundering of income obtained from crime into the system.
According to findings obtained from MASAK reports, it was noted that the criminal organization expanded its commercial volume through illegal income obtained from predicate crimes such as "qualified fraud," "smuggling," and "violating the Tax Procedure Law," and that company acquisitions, share transfers, and investment activities in strategic sectors such as education, media, finance, and energy were financed directly with criminal proceeds, aiming to both increase the organization's economic power and gain legitimacy in the eyes of the public.
As part of the investigation, the assets of 121 companies were seized, and a detention order was issued for 10 suspects with the appointment of a trustee by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).
Teams from the Istanbul Gendarmerie Command detained 6 suspects, including Kenan Tekdağ, the chairman of the board of directors of Can Yayın Holding, during an operation they conducted.
Some of the companies that were appointed trustees are as follows:
"Habertürk Journalism, Ciner Media TV Services, Show Television Broadcasting, Boğaziçi Radio Television Broadcasting and Advertising, Energy Petroleum Products Marketing, Nature Schools Management, Bilgi Nature Education Management, Turktobacco Cigarette Import and Export Marketing, HT Sports Television Broadcasting, and Bosphorus Media Group Radio and Television Broadcasting Joint Stock Company."
Among the suspects sent to the courthouse and whose statements were taken by the prosecutor's office, D.Ç, D.C, M.K., and K.Ç. were referred to the peace criminal court with a request for their arrest for "being a member of an organization established for the purpose of committing a crime" and "money laundering," while C.C. was referred for "being a member of an organization established for the purpose of committing a crime."
The suspect Tekdağ was sent to the court with a request for judicial control measures in the form of "house arrest" and "prohibition of leaving the country" for the same crimes.
The court decided to arrest D.Ç, D.C, M.K, K.Ç., and C.C. for the crimes attributed to them, while judicial control measures in the form of "house arrest" and "prohibition of leaving the country" were applied to the suspect Kenan Tekdağ.
On the other hand, the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent the investigation file to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to lack of jurisdiction.
As part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was decided to appoint trustees to 10 more companies belonging to Can Holding. The names of the 10 companies to which trustees were appointed are as follows:
"Türktab Marketing Cigarette and Tobacco Industry Inc., ZA Logistics and Vehicle Rental Services Trade Inc., Canpet Gas Station Management Inc., Tares Tech. Products Import and Export Ltd. Co., Furkon Technical Hardware Industry and Foreign Trade Ltd. Co., Clean Oil and Real Estate Trade Inc., MCN Oil Inc., Yön Private Education Publishing Industry Trade Inc., Mer Investment and Private Education Services Inc., Bee Science Innovation Education Services Inc."
Details are coming...