13.07.2026 12:20
The past challenge of Ahbap Association President Haluk Levent, who was detained on allegations of 'money laundering', 'gang membership', and betting millions of liras by diverting donations collected for earthquake victims into his personal accounts, has resurfaced. Three years ago, in response to criticism about transparency, the famous artist had said, 'Bring it on! If even one person comes out and says Haluk Levent embezzled the money, I will resign and declare my dishonor.'
Founded in 2017 by Haluk Levent and known especially for its aid activities during disaster periods, the Ahbap Association is at the center of a major judicial investigation. Acting on the order of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, security forces conducted a large-scale operation based on allegations of irregularities within the association. As part of the operation, artist Haluk Levent was taken into custody.
20 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY: CHARGES ARE VERY SERIOUS
Within the scope of the operation, 20 suspects identified as being connected to Ahbap Association members and employees were apprehended. It was reported that lawyer Ece Güner was among those taken into custody.
The main charges against the suspects are reported to be "Violation of the Associations Law", "Membership in an organization", and "Laundering of assets derived from crime (Money laundering)". During searches at the suspects' addresses, numerous digital materials, cash, gold, checks, promissory notes, and various documents were seized.
ASTOUNDING ALLEGATIONS: 990 MILLION LIRA BETTING
In the details of the investigation conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, striking financial movements regarding the fate of the collected donations have come to light. According to information reflected in the indictment, the financial irregularities occurred as follows:
- It was alleged that Haluk Levent used the accounts of numerous suspects for irregular money transfers, and that one of these accounts belonged to his assistant Yeliz K.
- It was claimed that approximately 120 million lira was transferred to these personal accounts used by the famous artist from the association's treasury.
- One of the most striking allegations in the investigation covers the period between 2020 and 2026. It was asserted that during this period, Levent placed bets totaling 990 million lira and lost 390 million lira in these games.
CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE STATEMENT ON "EARTHQUAKE FUNDS"
The most sensitive point of the investigation concerns the aid collected after the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. While it is stated that the Ahbap Association collected approximately 158 million dollars in donations for earthquake victims at that time, it is emphasized that some of the planned housing has still not been completed despite the 3 years that have passed.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office shared the following official statement regarding the fate of these donations:
“It has been determined that the donations of our sensitive citizens, who were under the negative and painful emotions caused by the earthquake disaster of February 6, 2023 and wished to provide aid, were transferred to personal accounts by the suspects, used for betting, and transferred to third parties. The suspects have been taken into custody.”
THOSE WORDS BACK ON THE AGENDA: I WILL DECLARE MY DISHONOR
Following the detention order and the serious allegations, a speech made by Haluk Levent about the association's transparency approximately 3 years ago has once again become one of the most shared items on social media.
In that video, Levent rejected the allegations and used the following statements:
“I say 'Hodri Meydan' [I challenge you]. Let one of the families we said 'we took this, we took that' from the money collected over the past 6 years come forward and say 'The benefactor did not send us money, Haluk Levent went and ate the money.' I will resign and declare my dishonor.”