19.07.2026 19:20
In the investigation into Ahbap Association, BaBaLa TV founder Oğuzhan Uğur, who was detained, denied the allegations in his first statement at the police station. Uğur argued that there was an exchange of information, not money, with Ahbap during the earthquake period, stating that he has not been together with Haluk Levent since 2023, and said, "We estimate that approximately 60,000,000 TL was donated to Ahbap, AFAD, and the Red Crescent. However, this estimate is based on figures noted from what people who called us said."
As part of the Ahbap investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 9 people, including Oğuzhan Uğur, have been detained. Uğur, who was taken to the police station, has completed his statement. In his statement, Uğur claimed that he had no relationship with the Ahbap Association.
HE DENIED ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY TRANSACTIONS WITH AHBAP
Uğur, who claimed there were no money transactions with Ahbap, said they only exchanged information during the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Uğur stated: "I have no knowledge about Ahbap's financial structure, the amount of donations collected, or how these donations were used. We noted down the amounts mentioned by people who called us wanting to donate.
We estimate that approximately 60,000,000 TL was donated to Ahbap, AFAD, and the Red Cross. However, this estimate is based on figures noted from what people told us when they called.
It is not possible for us to know whether people donated these exact amounts or whether they donated at all. Additionally, we shared this estimate on all our social media accounts along with other aid we were able to record in 2023."
"WE WENT TO HATAY UPON HALUK LEVENT'S INVITATION"
In his statement, Uğur provided information about his media and broadcasting activities, stating that he works as an insured employee at Babala TV, owns a 25% share in Osis Yapım, and that Babala TV is a family company registered under his mother's name. His social media posts during the earthquake period were among the topics questioned. Uğur explained that on the day of the earthquake, due to strong communication facilities in Istanbul, they tried to support aid organizations, and that they went to Hatay upon Haluk Levent's invitation, where he conducted interviews with aid teams in the area.
"WHAT WE CONVEYED IS INFORMATION, NOT MONEY"
Uğur stated that they later returned to Istanbul and made aid broadcasts, sharing the verified IBAN numbers of AFAD and the Ahbap Association in the lower banners of these broadcasts. Uğur argued that the phrase "we are collecting money" in some interviews was misunderstood, defending himself by saying, "What we conveyed is information, not money."
"WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOGETHER WITH HALUK LEVENT SINCE 2023"
Uğur was also asked about his relationship with the Ahbap Association and its management. Uğur claimed he did not know anyone from the Ahbap Association except Haluk Levent and had no relationship with the association's management. Stating that he first met Haluk Levent when he was a guest on his program in 2018, Uğur said they came together again for a program in 2022, met in Hatay on February 7, 2023, after the earthquake, and have not seen each other since.
Uğur stated that he did not take part in the activities of the Ahbap Association and only shared Ahbap's contact and IBAN information during the earthquake period, just like other aid organizations.
"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO KNOW HOW AHBAP'S MONEY WAS USED"
Uğur said he had no information about the Ahbap Association's financial structure, the amount of donations collected, or how these donations were used.
Stating that they noted down the amounts declared by people who called them wanting to donate, Uğur expressed that they estimated approximately 60 million TL might have been donated to Ahbap, AFAD, and the Red Cross; however, this figure is based on donors' declarations, and it is not possible for him to know whether donations were actually made.
Uğur also claimed that he had no suspicion that donations to the Ahbap Association were used for purposes other than intended and that he did not witness any irregularities.
During the statement, Oğuzhan Uğur was also asked about the company structure involving Babala TV, Babalayka Film, and Osis Yapım. Uğur explained that he launched Babala TV on YouTube himself, with the goal of creating a "new media." He said that as Babala TV's content shifted towards politics and social events, they established Babalayka TV for entertainment content, and since they believed this structure would not grow financially, it was managed through his sibling.
Regarding Osis Yapım, Uğur explained it was a media company founded with İlker Ayrık and partners, and stated that Babala TV's YouTube revenues have been distributed among partners since 2021.
"I BOUGHT THE HOUSE WITH A LOAN"
As part of the investigation, Uğur was also questioned about a transfer of 25 million TL to a person named Emin Altuğ Özkan from Babala TV's account on January 5, 2024, and a property purchased at River Oak Villaları in Çekmeköy Ömerli.
Uğur said they made a program agreement worth approximately 30 million TL with Gain Media Group, requested a higher amount in the first payment, and intended to buy a house and a car with that money. He stated that the house was purchased with a loan and that loan payments are ongoing.
Additionally, he was questioned about a total of 6.5 million TL in cash deposited into the personal accounts of Oğuzhan and Tuğrul Uğur on November 1, 2024, and the transfer of these amounts back to Babala TV as "advance refunds" within a short period. Uğur claimed that the cash in question was borrowed money needed for home renovation, tax debts, and employee salaries.
"NOT A 30 MILLION, BUT A 9.7 MILLION VEHICLE PAYMENT
One of the notable points in the statement was a transfer of 9 million 700 thousand TL from Babala TV's account to a person named Muammed Emre Gökmen, with the description "purchase of vehicle 34 FBZ 403." Investigation units questioned Uğur about the assessment that an artificial transaction volume of approximately 30 million TL was created because the same amount was refunded by the bank and sent again.
Uğur, however, claimed that this transaction was a payment for a vehicle purchase and was refunded by the bank twice due to a name error. Stating that processing the payment three times does not mean the total amount is 30 million TL, Uğur said, "The total amount is 9 million 700 thousand TL. It is not money that constitutes any crime."
"THE COMPANY'S MONEY MOVEMENTS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH AHBAP"
One of the assessments in Uğur's statement concerned company account movements. Uğur claimed that money transfers from his companies and personal accounts had "absolutely nothing to do with the Ahbap Association."
He stated that these movements were entirely related to their own commercial operations, that the money involved in the account movements was accounted for, and should not be associated with the Ahbap Association.
Denying the accusations against him, Uğur declared that he did not engage in any fraudulent activity, did not attempt to launder property derived from crime, was not aware of the existence of any organization, and was not part of any organization.
HE DENIED THE AHBAP CONNECTION
At the end of his statement, Oğuzhan Uğur stated that he did not accept the accusations and emphasized that he had no connection with the Ahbap Association.
Uğur said that his statements regarding donations to the Ahbap Association were misunderstood, that he did not specifically request donations to Ahbap, and that he also shared support for AFAD and the Red Cross.
Uğur, stating that he has not met Haluk Levent in person since 2023, claimed that Haluk Levent called him a total of three times in 2024 and 2025, and these conversations were about a planned song release and general topics.
The statement also included the joint declaration of Uğur's defense lawyers. The attorneys argued that the conditions for the nighttime search at the home-office were not clearly established, that there were legal violations regarding the seized digital materials, and that any evidence obtained through this method should be deemed invalid.
The defense lawyers further stated that records of Uğur's company and personal accounts could be examined through official documents, demonstrating that these records cannot link their client to the crime, and requested his release and a decision of non-prosecution.