06.11.2026 11:00
Former minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, who testified before the prosecutor for the second time in the fund investigation, was arrested for "being a member of a criminal organization and violating the Capital Markets Board (SPK) Law." Kaya was sent to Silivri Prison, where Ekrem İmamoğlu is also being held.
In the fund investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, former Minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was arrested on charges of 'violation of the Capital Markets Law' and 'membership in an organization' and sent to Silivri Prison, while a judicial control decision was issued for her husband İlyas Kaya and former SPK Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül.
There were late-night developments 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 came to the courthouse to testify as 'suspects.' The testimony procedures, which began around 11:00, were completed at 20:13. After their statements, among those referred to judicial authorities, Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was arrested and sent to Silivri Prison.
MIDNIGHT ARREST DECISION
After the testimony procedures, the prosecutor's office referred Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya to the Duty Magistrate's Court with a request for arrest on charges of 'violation of the Capital Markets Law' and 'membership in an organization formed to commit crimes.' Her husband İlyas Kaya and former SPK Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül were referred to the court with a judicial control condition.
WENT TO İMAMOĞLU
The Magistrate's Court issued an arrest decision for Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya in line with the referral articles. The arrested Kaya was sent to Silivri Prison, where Ekrem İmamoğlu is also being held. The court ruled that judicial control measures consisting of a ban on leaving the country and signing at a police station be applied to İlyas Kaya and İbrahim Ömer Gönül.
WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AND ALLEGATIONS?
According to information in the investigation file, it was alleged that the Kaya couple obtained unjust gain from one of the funds liquidated by the SPK. It was claimed that former SPK Chairman and Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül abused his office regarding the rapid rise in the funds, and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance granted investigation permission regarding the allegations. Gönül was removed from office on October 19.
DETAILS OF THE ARREST REFERRAL LETTER REVEALED
The technical and legal details in the arrest referral letter prepared about Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya have come to light. The findings in the referral letter were listed as follows:
- Finding of Receipt 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 that could affect the value of the capital market instrument and investor decisions.
- Tera Group Concentration: When KAP data and capital structure were examined, it was recorded that Tera Group made intensive purchases in OZATD shares at company and fund level. It was conveyed that in Kaya's statement she declared that she had a prior acquaintance with Tera Group executive Erdin Özel, that meetings intensified during the investment process, and that she also met with Tera Group Chairman 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 to the account 2 business days later. However, it was determined that Kaya's shares were not sold in the market but transferred via virman to Tera Yatırım Menkul Değerler A.Ş., and in a 'T+0' position the share payment was transferred to the suspect's account within the same day.
In the referral letter, an assessment was included 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 share price movement range and that the liquidation decision would be taken.