10.07.2026 16:00
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has prepared an indictment against 504 suspects in an investigation into money laundering of proceeds obtained through forex and qualified fraud in the Grand Bazaar. Prison sentences ranging from 15 to 34.5 years have been sought for the suspects, including 36 fugitives and 134 detainees. The indictment alleges that the suspects managed a billion-dollar money flow through 369 shell companies.
An indictment has been prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding a total of 504 suspects, including 36 fugitives and 134 detainees, in the "Grand Bazaar investigation" aimed at preventing the crime of "laundering assets derived from crime."
DECADES OF PRISON SOUGHT FOR 504 SUSPECTS
In the indictment by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that among the 504 suspects, including 36 fugitives and 134 detainees, fugitive Türker Ak is the leader of the criminal organization, while detained suspect Murat Dönmezoğlu is the organization's manager. These suspects face prison sentences ranging from 15 years to 34 years and 6 months for "establishing an organization to commit crimes" and "laundering assets derived from crime in a chain-like manner."
Other suspects are also requested to be punished with varying prison terms for "laundering assets derived from crime as part of an organization" and "being a member of an organization established to commit crimes."
A CASE WAS ALSO FILED PREVIOUSLY
The indictment noted that a previous case was filed in the Istanbul 18th Heavy Penal Court based on the determinations of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) regarding the organization led by Türker Ak and Murat Dönmezoğlu laundering proceeds of crime within the scope of Forex investment fraud activities.
Stating according to the MASAK report that the crime was not an isolated organization, the indictment emphasized that it was determined that income from Forex investment fraud, illegal betting activities, and various qualified fraud crimes committed across Turkey were integrated into the financial system through a professional laundering mechanism.
CRIME PROCEEDS LAUNDERED IN THE GRAND BAZAAR
The indictment recorded that after the MASAK report clearly revealed that crime proceeds were laundered, particularly through certain currency exchange offices operating in the Grand Bazaar, the non-prosecution decision previously given regarding Faik Özbey and Venus Döviz officials was lifted and the investigation continued.
BILLION-DOLLAR MONEY TRAFFIC MANAGED THIS WAY
When the financial data regarding the companies under investigation were analyzed, it was emphasized in the indictment that high-volume money inflows from hundreds of different real and legal persons occurred into the company accounts used within the organization, and the following determinations were made:
"It has been determined that approximately 257 million lira entered Yalçın Aktariye accounts from 1,075 different real persons and 462 different legal entities, approximately 593 million lira entered Bilhan Group accounts from 135 different real persons and 107 different legal entities, approximately 708 million lira entered Atahan Gıda accounts, approximately 406 million lira entered Biyal Tarım accounts, approximately 233 million lira entered Fast Gayrimenkul accounts, approximately 213 million lira entered İMA Bilişim accounts, approximately 149 million lira entered Öznacar İnşaat accounts, approximately 136 million lira entered Maysan Gıda accounts, approximately 101 million lira entered Arbe Bilişim accounts, and approximately 85 million lira entered Metro Sanayi accounts."
1,112 INDICTMENTS PREPARED FOR THIS METHOD ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Stating that 1,112 indictments have been prepared by chief public prosecutor's offices across Turkey regarding this fraud method, the indictment used the expression: "It will be seen that thousands of people have been defrauded as victims/complainants through the method illustrated with this single example."
In the indictment, the assessment was made: "When the aforementioned files are evaluated, it is understood that it does not consist of a single fraud method; on the contrary, crimes committed using information systems as tools and many different qualified fraud methods generate criminal income within the same financial structure. When the victim statements, bank records, MASAK analyses, GSM data, digital materials, and company movements within the file are evaluated together, it is determined that the proceeds from crime, although obtained through different methods, are included in a common financial circulation system."
HERE IS THE SCAMMERS' METHOD
The indictment noted that in the examined files, victims were directed using different fraudulent scenarios; some victims were directed through fake advertisements for vehicle, villa, bungalow rentals, and phone and electronic product sales published on the internet. In some cases, it was reported that fake interfaces created by cloning the TOGG pre-order system, BİMCELL payment screen, vehicle insurance renewal system, GSM operator payment screens, corporate company websites, and similar digital platforms were used.
The indictment also stated that in some files, victims were directed by individuals posing as investment advisors, bank officials, police officers, prosecutor's office personnel, trademark registration officials, insurance representatives, crypto platform representatives, or official institution officials, while in other files, victims' will was impaired through social media account hijacking, establishing work-from-home and earning systems, and promises of raffles, prizes, and jobs.
"A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION"
Stating that the structure under investigation is not a temporary organization serving only a specific type of crime, the indictment noted that thanks to the companies, bank accounts, electronic money institutions, accounting system, and financial control mechanisms established initially, it is a professional financial organization capable of accepting, managing, and directing income obtained from different types of crimes.
The indictment reported that the system, which initially operated on a limited scale, grew over time, and particularly with the inclusion of income from illegal betting activities and criminal proceeds from investment and forex frauds committed across the country, the transaction volume and organizational capacity increased significantly.
THEY DID NOT STOP AT SETTING UP COMPANIES
Emphasizing that the organization was not content with merely setting up companies but also systematically created the human resources to use these companies, the indictment stated that examinations revealed that the individuals who would be made company owners were mostly chosen from among people with weak economic status, those looking for work, close acquaintances, or people reached through friendship relations.
The indictment included the determination that the criminal organization, while initially operating through a limited number of individuals and companies, grew over time by systematically procuring individuals to be made company owners, establishing new companies, creating accounting and financial control mechanisms, and establishing a division of labor among organization managers.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent the indictment to the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.