19.07.2024 19:51
The details of the MASAK report prepared for Dilan Polat and Engin Polat couple have been obtained. In the 908-page report, it was stated that Dilan Polat does not have decision-making authority in commercial and financial transactions, and that the decision-makers are Engin and Sezgin Polat. Regarding Engin Polat, it was noted that there is no finding related to illegal gambling and money laundering.
The details of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) report, which was prepared regarding the case in which Dilan Polat and her husband Engin Polat were arrested after the operation carried out in 6 provinces centered in Istanbul, have been reached.
According to the 908-page final report prepared about the suspects, including the Polat couple, whose digital materials and notebooks were seized during the searches previously conducted in their companies within the scope of the investigation, it was stated that Dilan Polat bought 3 real estates between 2020-2023 and had an entry of 5 million 400 thousand liras in her account, but there was no suspicious data in her accounts.
DİLAN POLAT HAS NO DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY The report stated that Dilan Polat does not have decision-making authority in commercial and financial transactions, and that Engin and Sezgin Polat are the decision-makers. It was emphasized in the report that Engin Polat had an entry of 71 million 904 thousand liras and an exit of 144 million 208 thousand liras in his account between 2020-2023, and that he bought 3 vehicles and 6 real estates during these years, and no illegal betting-related findings were found.
NO FINDINGS REGARDING ILLEGAL BETTING AND MONEY LAUNDERING It was stated that the transactions related to the assets were proportional to the income obtained when considering the general commercial capacities of the family companies. The report mentioned that Engin Polat committed the crime of smuggling (keeping dual books) by recording his records in other recording environments in a way that reduces the legal book and tax base, and it was emphasized that no findings were found regarding illegal betting and money laundering.
The information was given that it would not be a correct approach to expect the illegally obtained money to be sent to the accounts of the individuals and companies subject to the investigation in a way that can be easily and openly detected in the indictment. The following evaluations of the prosecutor were included: "It is considered that the individuals and companies subject to the investigation, in order to conceal their ultimate goals with a professional tactic and organization, established dozens of companies operating in the beauty and cosmetics sector, even engaged in significant real commercial activities reaching considerable amounts, and took advantage of fake invoices and cash withdrawals and investments during the circulation of money between companies, thus trying to make it impossible to control the illegally flowing money by blending it with the money obtained from real commercial activities. Indeed, it has been concluded that a part of the high amount of money is kept and transferred to the relevant person through crypto wallets in order not to reveal the real situation or is kept in reserve and used in luxury life when necessary, and thus the money laundering process is operated."
WHAT HAPPENED? In the operations carried out in 6 provinces centered in Istanbul on November 1, 2023, and afterwards, 24 suspects, including Dilan Polat and her husband Engin Polat, were detained. Within the scope of the investigation, a preliminary examination report was prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) regarding the suspects, including the Polat couple, whose digital materials and notebooks were seized during the searches previously conducted in their companies, and it was determined that there was an inflow of 200 million liras to the companies owned by family members through the method of issuing fake invoices in exchange for so-called trade from 3 liquidation companies.
It was determined that the money was transferred between the companies owned by family members, and after it was determined that real estates and numerous vehicles were purchased in the company named Milda Real Estate owned by Engin Polat, the Istanbul Financial Crimes Investigation Branch teams identified the identities of the suspects and carried out simultaneous operations to 43 addresses in Istanbul, Ankara, Yalova, Ordu, Kırklareli, and Manisa.
During the investigation, the teams, who continued their work, determined that a medical company owned by Dilan and Engin Polat gave the naming rights to another company in Ankara and that an attempt was made to transfer the 1 million 800 thousand liras in the account of this company to the personal accounts of the partners. 16 of the suspects, including Dilan Polat, Engin Polat, and Sıla Doğu, were arrested, and the court ruled for the appointment of trustees to 27 companies. In the monthly detention review on June 14, the Peace Criminal Court ruled to apply judicial control measures and release Can and Sinem Sıla Doğu, Can Polat, Gökay Bekar, Halit Polat, Harun Abak, Metin Yılmaz, Mustafa Özalp, Nilgün Yılmaz, Uğurcan Ayyıldız, and Zekai Tepe, and decided to continue the detention of the other 5 suspects.
DETAILS FROM THE INDICTMENT In the indictment prepared by the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office after the completion of the investigation, it is stated that the illegally obtained money is subjected to money laundering by being transferred without being entered into the system through the "cold wallet method", and it is evaluated that the organization, during these activities, also engaged in some real commercial activities thanks to the fame and recognition they quickly achieved, thus trying to make it difficult to track and control, which is the most distinctive aspect of money laundering crimes.
In the indictment, it is stated that the illegally obtained money is attempted to be concealed, and an image is created that the enrichment comes from a real trade by establishing multiple companies, and fake invoices regarding non-existent transactions and operations are issued and used, and secret external records are kept apart from the books that are legally required to be kept.The indictment also requests the seizure and transfer of ownership to the public of all immovable properties, vehicles, and similar assets owned by the 31 companies included in the investigation.
The indictment seeks a total of 40 years of imprisonment for Dilan and Engin Polat on charges of "establishing and managing a criminal organization with the intent to commit a crime," "money laundering of assets derived from crime," and "violation of the Law on the Organization of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions." The indictment also proposes varying prison sentences for other suspects on different charges.
The indictment, approved by the Prosecutor's Office, was returned by the Anatolian 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, stating that the Heavy Penal Court is the competent court to conduct the trial. The objection made, emphasizing that the competent court can be determined based on the main penalty and that the enhancement provision is not essential in determining the court's jurisdiction, was accepted by the Anatolian 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The court decided to hold the first hearing of the trial on September 4th. It is expected that the hearings will continue on September 5th and 6th.
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