16.10.2026 12:02
New Party Erzincan MP Mustafa Sarıgül made a public statement regarding the investigation conducted into his family and journalist Murat Ağırel. Stating that the process is ongoing, Sarıgül announced that family members will share all information and documents with the judicial authorities, saying, "The matter is a commercial business dispute. The allegations put forward by the opposing party are false."
New Party Erzincan MP Mustafa Sarıgül’s ex-wife Aylin Kotil, his son Ömer Sarıgül and journalist Murat Ağırel were detained. Within the scope of the investigation, in which a detention order was also issued for his other son Emir Sarıgül, MP Mustafa Sarıgül made his first statement on the matter.
Sarıgül stated that the investigation launched was based on a commercial business dispute and used the following words:
“As part of an investigation launched, statements of my family members are being taken. The process is still ongoing. The matter is a commercial business dispute. The claims put forward by the opposing party are untrue. The source and authenticity of the documents are questionable.”
“MURAT AĞIREL WAS DETAINED WHILE INVESTIGATING THE TRUTH OF THE INCIDENT”
Also touching upon the situation of detained journalist Murat Ağırel in his statement, Sarıgül stated that the opposing party approached Ağırel before the investigation began in order to have its baseless claims turned into news. Sarıgül said, “I learned that journalist Mr. Murat Ağırel was detained within the scope of the said investigation while investigating the truth of the incident.”
“I WANT RESPECT FOR THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE”
Mustafa Sarıgül, who stated that throughout the process his family members would share all information and documents with the investigation authorities, concluded his statement with the following words:
“My family members will share all information and documents regarding the incident within the scope of the investigation with the investigation authorities. The process is ongoing. In this process, I want respect for the presumption of innocence, that is, that no one should be treated as guilty or be tarnished until the judgment concerning them becomes final. Respectfully announced to the public.”
INVESTIGATION BEGAN WITH THE COMPLAINT OF GERMAN CITIZENS
It was stated that the investigation was launched upon the claims of the complainants, German citizens K.P. and M.B., that transactions were carried out through companies established at home and abroad for the laundering of high amounts of money of unknown origin.
In the statements of the complainants, it was conveyed that it was alleged that a contract worth 80 million euros was drawn up, a remittance transaction worth 100 million euros was carried out, a fund worth 1 billion euros was promised to be transferred abroad by way of a loan using public power and influence, and a boat sale worth 1.5 million euros was made.
THREAT CLAIMS
In the statement, the following statements were included regarding the grounds for the detention order;
The complainants’ statements that they also forwarded the information and documents on the matter to Murat Ağırel and that they were threatened after the said information and documents were transmitted to the relevant persons, together with the audio and video recordings they submitted and the evidence obtained within the scope of the investigation, were evaluated together, and a detention order was issued for the suspects.
The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that the investigation proceedings on the matter are continuing in a multifaceted manner.
In the statement made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the following was recorded:
“Within the scope of the investigation conducted by our Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, an investigation was launched upon the complainants, German citizens K.P. and M.B., claiming that transactions were carried out through companies established at home and abroad for the laundering of high amounts of money of unknown origin.
By the complainants, it was alleged that a contract worth 80 million Euros was drawn up, a remittance transaction worth 100 million Euros was carried out, a fund worth 1 billion Euros was promised to be transferred abroad by way of a loan using public power and influence, and a boat sale worth 1.5 million Euros was made.
The complainants’ statements that they also forwarded the information and documents on the matter to journalist Murat Ağırel and that they were threatened after the said information and documents were transmitted to the relevant persons, together with the audio and video recordings they submitted and the evidence obtained within the scope of the investigation, were evaluated together, and a detention order was issued for the suspects Emir Sarıgül, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner and Murat Ağırel.
The allegations about Turkish Grand National Assembly 28th Term MP Mustafa Sarıgül will be sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for separate evaluation.
The investigation proceedings are ongoing.”