14.07.2026 22:10
In the Ahbap Association investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the testimony of İlker Çetin, who served as Haluk Levent's driver for approximately 3.5 years, was added to the file. Çetin claimed that his bank account was used for transfers worth millions of liras at Levent's instruction, with transactions exceeding 210 million TL. Stating that he carried large amounts of cash in Ankara and that millions worth of casino chips in Cyprus were purchased through his account, Çetin said the instructions were conveyed via WhatsApp.
A striking new statement has been added to the file in the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the Ahbap Association. İlker Çetin, who stated that he worked as Haluk Levent's official driver for about 3.5 years, claimed in his testimony to the police that bank accounts were used for money transfers totaling millions of lira in line with Haluk Levent's instructions. Çetin brought many notable allegations to the investigation file, ranging from money transfers exceeding 210 million lira to large amounts of cash transported in Ankara, instructions received via WhatsApp, and the purchase of millions of lira worth of casino chips in Cyprus.
HE SERVED AS THE OFFICIAL DRIVER FOR 3.5 YEARS
The statements of İlker Çetin, Haluk Levent's former driver, who testified as part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the Ahbap Association, have emerged. İlker Çetin, who served as Haluk Levent's official driver for approximately 3.5 years, admitted in his testimony given at the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Branch on July 14, 2026, that the substantial money transfers made through bank accounts were carried out in line with Haluk Levent's instructions.
"HE HAD NO ACCOUNT OF HIS OWN, HE USED MY ACCOUNT"
Çetin stated that Haluk Levent had no bank account or credit card, saying that money to be sent to different people was deposited into his account and then transferred to accounts designated by Levent. In his testimony, Çetin said, "I would send the money that came into my account to the people he told me to," and noted that instructions regarding the money transfers were sent to him via WhatsApp. Çetin also claimed that Haluk Levent used accounts belonging to Emrah Gödeliner, Zafer Yay, and Yeliz Kaya, and argued that he did not gain any personal benefit from the movements in his own account.
TRANSFER EXCEEDING 210 MILLION LIRA TO YELİZ KAYA
According to the account movements examined by MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board), it was stated that between January 13, 2024, and April 24, 2026, 10 million 124 thousand 766 lira was sent from Yeliz Kaya's accounts to İlker Çetin's accounts in 250 transactions. It was also recorded that between the same dates, 210 million 336 thousand 68 lira was transferred from İlker Çetin's accounts to Yeliz Kaya's accounts in 45 separate transactions. When asked about these money movements, Çetin confessed that the transfers were carried out in line with Haluk Levent's instructions. Claiming he did not know the source of the money or for what purpose it was used, Çetin said, "I was acting on Haluk Levent's requests and orders."
"I CARRIED A LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH IN ANKARA"
Haluk Levent's driver Çetin stated that he received a large amount of cash in Ankara and deposited this money into Yeliz Kaya's bank account. Çetin said that Haluk Levent sent him a location, and he went to the specified address, collected the money from individuals, and took it to the bank. Claiming he did not know who the money came from or what its source was, Çetin noted that although he was uncomfortable with the money movements, he did not ask questions out of fear of losing his job.
"I SAVED THE WHATSAPP CORRESPONDENCE AS EVIDENCE"
İlker Çetin stated that the instructions regarding the transactions carried out through his account were found in WhatsApp messages. Çetin said, "I was suspicious, but I didn't know the details. I saved all the correspondence as evidence." He noted that he handed over the mobile phone he used, along with its password, to the police units and stated that the messages related to the money transfers were on his phone.
CLAIM OF 1-2 MILLION LIRA WORTH OF CHIPS IN CYPRUS
One of the most striking parts of Çetin's testimony was the allegations regarding Haluk Levent's casino transactions in Cyprus. Çetin stated that Haluk Levent gambled during his visits to Cyprus and claimed that casino chips were purchased for Levent through his own bank account. Çetin said the amounts that caught his attention in these transactions were over 1 million lira, with some payments reaching approximately 2 million lira.
MONEY MOVEMENT OF 8.6 MILLION LIRA WITH ZAFER YAY
In the MASAK review, it was stated that a total of 6 million 502 thousand 59 lira was transferred from Zafer Yay's accounts to İlker Çetin's accounts in 393 transactions. It was also recorded that 2 million 120 thousand 271 lira was sent from Çetin's accounts to Zafer Yay's accounts in 36 transactions. Çetin argued that these money movements were related to vehicle, travel, and other expenses, and that some money was sent to other people on Haluk Levent's instructions.
TRANSFER EXCEEDING 11 MILLION LIRA WITH ALPER ÇELİK
In the MASAK report, it was stated that 2 million 806 thousand 600 lira was sent from Alper Çelik's accounts to İlker Çetin's accounts in 31 transactions. It was also recorded that a total of 8 million 355 thousand 900 lira was transferred from İlker Çetin's accounts to Alper Çelik in 287 transactions. Çetin claimed that Haluk Levent used his account to send money to Alper Çelik. Stating he did not know the source of the money, Çetin said he wrote phrases like "debt repayment" or "with Haluk Levent's knowledge" in the transfer descriptions.
"I WAS JUST HIS DRIVER"
İlker Çetin stated that he did not accept the accusations against him and argued that the money movements in his account belonged to Haluk Levent. Çetin said, "I am not a member of any criminal organization and have no connection with the Ahbap Association. I was only Haluk Levent's driver. The transactions carried out through my account belong to Haluk Levent." Çetin's lawyer also stated that his client was an insured employee acting in line with his employer's instructions, did not gain any personal benefit from the money movements, and handed over all records on his phone to the police units.