11.09.2025 19:00
As part of the investigation into Can Holding in Istanbul, the assets of 121 companies have been seized on charges of "establishing a criminal organization," "tax evasion," "fraud," and "money laundering," while the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has been appointed as the trustee. Out of 10 suspects for whom detention orders were issued, 4 have been taken into custody. The call for a locksmith during the inspections at the building housing Habertürk and Show TV did not go unnoticed.
It was claimed that an organization was established to commit crimes through companies operating under Can Holding as part of the investigation conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of Küçükçekmece, and that various actions were carried out through this organization, including qualified fraud, tax evasion, the injection of undisclosed income into company accounts, and money laundering activities.
An investigation was initiated based on the reports of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and the examination reports prepared by financial audit units. It was alleged that significant amounts of undisclosed money were injected through companies operating under Can Holding, and that these funds were transferred between various companies in an attempt to conceal their traces, while tax obligations were reduced through unbilled transactions and the issuance of fake documents.
AVOIDED LEGAL SANCTIONS
It was alleged that the profit-oriented criminal organization established under the holding structure, led by Kemal Can and Mehmet Şakir Can, complicated the oversight and monitoring mechanisms by establishing numerous companies in the same fields of activity, making changes in the boards of directors, distributing responsibility among organization members, and thereby aiming to avoid legal sanctions. Additionally, it was claimed that cash capital increases were made in companies that had no commercial activity, with the source of these capital increases being shown as debts to partners, which did not reflect reality, and that the amounts seen in the debts to partners account were reinvested in the company under the "Law No. 7256 on Asset Peace," and that these transactions were characterized as the inclusion and laundering of income obtained from crime in violation of the law's purpose.
Based on the findings obtained from MASAK reports, it was alleged that the criminal organization expanded its commercial volume through illegal income obtained from predicate offenses such as "qualified fraud," "smuggling," and "violation of the Tax Procedure Law," and that company acquisitions, share transfers, and investment activities in strategic sectors such as education, media, finance, and energy were directly financed with criminal proceeds, aiming to both increase the organization's economic power and gain legitimacy in the public eye.
As a result of the evaluation of financial movements with MASAK reports, it was claimed that the suspects directed the illegal gains they obtained to different sectors, thereby both laundering the money and trying to establish a false reputation and power in the economic sphere.
ASSETS OF 121 COMPANIES SEIZED
In the operation carried out, the assets of 121 companies were seized, and the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as the trustee, with detention orders issued for 10 suspects. A total of 4 out of 10 suspects were detained as part of the investigation.
TMSF APPOINTED AS TRUSTEE FOR COMPANIES
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of Küçükçekmece requested the appointment of a trustee for some companies belonging to Can Holding as part of the investigation initiated for "establishing a criminal organization," "smuggling," "fraud," and "money laundering," by applying to the peace criminal court. The Küçükçekmece 4th Peace Criminal Court, which evaluated the request, decided to appoint TMSF as the trustee for 121 companies, including Habertürk and Show TV. The decision stated that, based on the MASAK report obtained during the investigation and the findings of law enforcement, it was determined that the companies controlled and owned by the suspects facilitated the laundering of income obtained from crime as part of the criminal organization activities and that numerous companies were controlled within the established holding.
The decision reminded that the shares, real estate, all types of vehicles, rights and receivables, all accounts with banks, safe deposit boxes, and cryptocurrency accounts of the mentioned companies were seized yesterday, and it was expressed that there was strong suspicion and findings that the suspects acted within the scope of the criminal organization activities to serve the purpose of laundering income obtained from crime and that these actions were carried out within the framework of the companies' activities.
THEY LAUNDERED INCOME OBTAINED FROM CRIME
The decision noted that there was strong suspicion and findings that the suspects acted within the scope of the criminal organization activities to serve the purpose of laundering income obtained from crime and that these actions were carried out within the framework of the companies' activities, and it was recorded that all management and authority of the companies were transferred to TMSF for the purpose of revealing the material truth and that they were appointed as trustees.
HERE ARE THE COMPANIES APPOINTED AS TRUSTEES
Some of the companies appointed as trustees are as follows: "Habertürk Journalism, Ciner Media TV Services, Show Television Broadcasting, Boğaziçi Radio Television Broadcasting and Advertising, Energy Petroleum Products Marketing, Nature Schools Management, Bilgi Nature Education Management, Turktobacco Cigarette Import and Export Marketing, HT Sports Television Broadcasting, and Bosphorus Media Group Radio and Television Broadcasting Joint Stock Company."
A LOCKSMITH WAS CALLED TO THE BUILDING
Meanwhile, the investigation carried out by the gendarmerie teams at the building where Habertürk and Show TV are located was completed in the morning hours. As the teams left the building with the documents they collected as evidence, it was noteworthy that a locksmith was called to the building while the work was ongoing.