06.11.2026 15:30
Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, who assumed the post of Minister of Family and Social Policies in 2016, was arrested within the scope of a fund investigation on charges of "membership in a criminal organization and violating the SPK Law." Kaya was sent to Silivri Prison, where Ekrem İmamoğlu is also being held. With this decision, a minister was arrested on the charge of membership in a criminal organization for the first time in Turkish political history.
In the fund investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, former Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was arrested on charges of "violating the Capital Markets Law" and "membership in an organization," becoming the first minister in Turkish political history to be arrested for membership in a criminal organization; judicial control measures were ordered for her husband İlyas Kaya and former Capital Markets Board (SPK) Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül.
Historic developments took place at midnight in the comprehensive investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the funds liquidated by the SPK and stock exchange transactions. Former Minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, her husband İlyas Kaya, and former Capital Markets Board (SPK) Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül arrived at the courthouse to testify as "suspects." The testimony marathon, which began around 11:00 a.m., was completed at 8:13 p.m.
MIDNIGHT ARREST DECISION Following the testimony proceedings, the prosecutor's office referred Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya to the Duty Magistrate's Court with a request for her arrest on charges of "violating the Capital Markets Law" and "membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing a crime." Her husband İlyas Kaya and former SPK Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül were referred to the court with judicial control conditions. The Duty Magistrate's Court issued an arrest decision for Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya in line with the referral articles.
Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya could not hold back her tears when she learned she would be arrested A FIRST TOOK PLACE With this decision, Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was recorded as the first minister in Turkish political history to be arrested on the charge of "membership in a criminal organization."
SHE WENT TO İMAMOĞLU'S SIDE Following the arrest decision, Kaya, whose transfer proceedings were completed at midnight under heavy security measures, was sent to Silivri Prison, where Ekrem İmamoğlu is also being held. The court ruled that İlyas Kaya and former SPK Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül be released under judicial control measures consisting of a ban on leaving the country and regularly signing in at a police station.
WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AND ALLEGATIONS? According to the information in the investigation file, it was alleged that the Kaya couple obtained unjust enrichment from one of the funds liquidated by the SPK. It was also alleged that former SPK Chairman and Chairman of the Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority İbrahim Ömer Gönül abused his position in connection with the rapid rise in the funds, and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance had granted permission for an investigation into the allegations. Gönül was removed from his post on October 19.
DETAILS OF THE REFERRAL DOCUMENT EMERGED The technical and legal details in the arrest referral document prepared about Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya have come to light. The findings in the referral document were listed as follows:
Finding of Insider Information: In the SPK report examining the data on the shares of Özata Denizcilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. (OZATD), it was stated that Kaya possessed non-public information of a nature that could affect the value of the capital market instrument and investors' decisions. Tera Group Concentration: When KAP data and the capital structure were examined, it was recorded that Tera Group made a large volume of purchases in OZATD shares on both a company and fund basis. It was reported that in her statement, Kaya declared that she had a long-standing acquaintance with Tera Group executive Erdin Özel, that their meetings intensified during the investment process, and that she also met with Tera Group Chairman of the Board Emre Tezmen. Sale One Day Before the Liquidation Decision: It was stated that the rise in OZATD shares began in April 2026, while the liquidation decision was taken on September 17, 2026. It was determined that Kaya sold the shares she bought in April on September 16, 2026, exactly one day before the liquidation decision. Special 'T+0' Privilege and Transfer Transaction: It was recalled that under normal conditions, sale transactions on the stock exchange are subject to the 'T+2' rule, meaning the money passes into the account two business days later. However, it was determined that the shares belonging to Kaya were not sold on the market but were transferred to Tera Yatırım Menkul Değerler A.Ş. by way of a transfer, and the share consideration was transferred to the suspect's account within the same day in a 'T+0' position. In the referral document, it was assessed that Kaya, despite making a stock exchange investment for the first time, carried out high-value transactions and acted in dialogue with Tera Group executives, knowing in advance the range of share price movements and that the liquidation decision would be taken.
SHE MADE A POST TWO DAYS BEFORE THE LIQUIDATION The post made on September 15, just before the share transfer and liquidation decision, once again drew attention. In her post, Kaya emphasized steps aimed at protecting citizens' budgets and the functioning of the market, and used the following statements: "Against those who attempt every kind of scheme to make an expensive morsel pass down our nation's throat for their own interests, we have a strong cabinet under the leadership of our President and a strong state that does not allow injustice and unlawfulness. I congratulate these operations carried out under the leadership of our Ministry of Justice against those who set price and cost traps for our nation."