16.07.2026 07:10
In the investigation against the Ahbap Association, prosecutor's inquiries have been completed. Among the 19 people referred to court with a request for arrest, along with Haluk Levent, lawyer Ece Güner was also arrested. In her police statement, Güner confessed that the famous singer lent her millions of dollars under pretexts such as "earthquake zone," "technology park," and "health issues," and outright exploited her.
The procedures for the suspects who were detained within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and referred to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan have been completed.
Following the prosecutor's questioning, 14 out of 19 suspects, including artist Haluk Levent and lawyer Ece Güner, who were referred to the duty magistrate with a request for "arrest," were ordered to be arrested.
ARRESTED NAMES ANNOUNCED
The duty magistrate decided to arrest Haluk Levent, along with Ece Güner, İlker Çetin, Nurdan Eriş, Yusuf Can Ertit, Kemal Ötünç, Şehmus Baştuğ, Abdülcevat Özkan, Emrah Gödeniler, Erhan Dökmeci, Halil Bostancı, Mehmet Ulu, Yeliz Kaya, and Zafer Yay.
EMPHASIS ON MASAK AND TRANSPARENCY IN REFERRAL LETTER
The prosecutor's letter, cited as the basis for Haluk Levent's referral for arrest, contained striking findings. The letter, particularly pointing to the management of billions of lira in funds collected after the 2023 earthquake, stated:
"It has been understood that strong suspicious indications have emerged that the aid was not managed or expended in a transparent and auditable manner, and these suspicions and evidence have been strengthened by the personal weaknesses and economic situation of the suspect, as well as the findings in the completed MASAK report."
The referral letter also emphasized that the Ahbap Association does not qualify as a public benefit association, noting that concrete findings have been made regarding the depletion of the association's own assets and the disposal of its real estate, and that the MASAK investigation and evidence collection processes are ongoing multidimensionally.
JUDICIAL CONTROL AND HOUSE ARREST DECISIONS
Among the other suspects brought before the court as part of the investigation, it was decided to impose a judicial control measure in the form of "not leaving the residence" (house arrest) for Esin Önder Çağlayan.
For the other detained suspects, Gülşen Öztürk, Merve Yılman, Tuğba Serbest, Buse Vurucu, and Yasin Meydaneri, judicial control provisions, including a travel ban abroad, were applied.
ECE GÜNER DENIED LAWYER AND CONSULTANCY CLAIMS IN POLICE STATEMENT
Ece Güner stated that she had been donating to the Ahbap Association for five or six years and made substantial donations, especially during the earthquake.
Claiming to know Haluk Levent by name, Güner said, "I made my donations through IBAN numbers provided on social media. I do not know who used the accounts of the Ahbap Association."
Güner denied the claim that she served as Haluk Levent's lawyer and consultant.
"HE CAME TO MY OFFICE WITH A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS"
Stating that she made large donations to the Ahbap Association after the earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş, Güner claimed that Levent contacted her by phone after the donations.
"He said he wanted to visit me and have a coffee. I did not really want my contributions to be seen or heard. I did not want Haluk Levent to meet with me," said Ece Güner, alleging that Levent visited her office with a bouquet of flowers.
"HE STARTED ASKING FOR LOANS BY MAKING EXCUSES"
"He started asking me for loans by making excuses about the problems in the earthquake region," said Güner, bringing forward the following claims in her statement:
"Initially, he asked me for around $300,000-$400,000. I also had plans to buy a house in İstinye Park at that time. I had a large amount of idle cash in the bank. I sent the $300,000-$400,000 to the accounts of the people Haluk Levent mentioned, with the explanation 'debt' and the dollar amounts written.
Haluk Levent paid back his debt on the promised date through the account holders I sent the money to. The same thing happened again within two weeks, related to emergency aid in the earthquake zone; he said they had a cash flow problem because urgent needs like water, bread, and food could not be invoiced through the association, and he asked me for a similar amount again as a two-week loan.
Similarly, I transferred the money to the accounts of the people Haluk Levent sent. When I asked Haluk Levent why I was sending money to these people's accounts, he said these friends were in the field and this method was used because it was needed urgently in that region. He repaid the amount I sent within two or three weeks. This is how he gained my trust."
THE ANKARA PROJECT AND A $3 MILLION LOAN REQUEST
Stating that Haluk Levent told her in August 2023 that the association would establish a large technology park in Ankara, Güner made the following claims regarding the $1 million she allegedly sent for this project:
"He mentioned that a philanthropic businessman would undertake this and that this businessman would contribute around $3 million. He said that this businessman's funds were temporarily blocked due to a tax issue and that as the Ahbap Association, they had made many commitments regarding this project, and if they could not fulfill them, it would be a huge disaster for the association, lawsuits could be filed, and the association's name could be tarnished.
Initially, he asked me for a $3 million loan. I said I did not have that much money. Then, with persistent calls, he contacted me repeatedly. Trusting him because he had repaid previous loans on time, I initially sent around $1 million equivalent in Turkish lira via IBAN numbers belonging to other individuals that Haluk Levent sent me, with the explanation including the dollar amount and 'debt.'
Regarding the technology park, the businessman who was said to be donating to the Ahbap Association would make a donation, but since the money he asked from me was a loan, not a donation, he wanted me to send this money to personal accounts, not the association. He stated that when the donation money from this businessman arrived, he would repay me the temporary loan I had sent."
Claiming that Haluk Levent did not repay the debt within a month, Ece Güner alleged, "He made excuses, told me long stories, saying he could repay the debt in about three months. Despite not repaying his debt, he repeatedly asked me for additional loans."
"HE TOLD STORIES THAT EVOKED PITY"
"He would constantly tell me stories about his and his family's health that evoked pity," said Güner, continuing her defense:
"After this, Haluk Levent asked me for another loan. On top of the $1 million debt I had previously given in several installments, I sent a total of $570,000 equivalent in Turkish lira, again stating the dollar amount and that it was a debt in the explanation."
I have essentially lent him a total of 1 million 570 thousand dollars in Turkish Lira. For this debt of 1 million 570 thousand dollars, Haluk Levent and I signed a document under his own signature. After about a year of lengthy efforts, Haluk Levent gradually repaid me the equivalent amount in Turkish Lira, though not the full dollar value, through the IBANs he provided me.