14.03.2025 21:30
In an illegal betting operation, Erkan Kork, the owner of Pozitifbank and Flash TV, was detained. Kork, who is alleged to be involved in a 'money laundering' network worth 6.9 billion TL, had his companies seized. During the operation, 49 people were detained, and 23 companies were appointed a trustee. In a statement from CapitalTurk Holding, owned by Kork, it was said, "We have full faith that justice will be served in this process."
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As part of the illegal betting investigation conducted by the Organized Crimes Investigation Office of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a simultaneous operation was carried out against 59 suspects, including Erkan Kork, the owner of Flash News TV, which is part of Pozitifbank, Payfix Payment Institution, and Göktuğ Multimedia Publishing Inc., resulting in the detention of 43 individuals.
3 DIFFERENT CHARGES WERE FILED AGAINST THE SUSPECTS The suspects are being investigated for the charges of 'Establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime', 'Money laundering of assets derived from crime', and 'Violation of Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions'.
AN ADMINISTRATOR WAS APPOINTED TO FLASH TV AND POZİTİFBANK As part of the investigation, an administrator from the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed to 23 companies, including Pozitifbank, Payfix, and Flash TV, which were seized.
"CONTACT WITH ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL BETTING ACTIVITIES" It was determined that Erkan Kork, who is alleged to be the leader of the organization, entered the financial system through a company named 'Troy Bilişim' since 2014 and systematically contacted organizations engaged in illegal betting activities within the country. It was found that Kork established an organizational system with the proceeds of crime to create a payment institution named 'Payfix'. Thanks to the software developed within 'Payfix', it was determined that the domains referred to as 'panels' by illegal betting barons were integrated into Payfix's financial software system, allowing many foreign-based virtual betting sites to operate in Turkey. Additionally, it was found that they provided money transfer and financial security services to illegal betting sites using Payfix's service infrastructure, created fake 'Payfix' wallet accounts on behalf of third parties, opened accounts, and laundered illegal betting revenues through these fake accounts.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MORE THAN 4 BILLION LIRA WAS TRANSFERRED According to the audit reports of MASAK and the Central Bank, 80,011 different money transfer clusters were detected in the 'Payfix' database system. A total of 211,109 accounts belonging to these clusters were identified, while 855 account holders were reported to be at risk in terms of illegal betting. Furthermore, it was determined that these clusters showed similarities to the typology of illegal betting, and individuals under analysis transferred 4 billion 223 million 399 thousand 614 lira from their bank accounts to the bank accounts of cryptocurrency service providers. Detailed examinations revealed that 43,861 Payfix wallet accounts accessed 49 million 671 thousand 178 money transfer transactions between August 21 and October 19, 2023, and these transactions were linked to illegal betting activities.
As part of the investigation, it was determined that the suspects acted in a trust relationship with each other to manage the payment institution named 'Payfix' and established connections with banks and companies that could directly affect financial life. In this context, it was found that they purchased PozitifBank and laundered the proceeds of crime by establishing many commercial companies, including Capital Türk Holding, Ay Para Payment Institution A.Ş., and Ininal Payment and Electronic Money Services A.Ş., or by acquiring already established companies.
ASSETS WERE SEIZED A total of 17 residences, 9 plots, 1 office, 13 vehicles belonging to the organization leader and members, as well as personal accounts and cryptocurrency wallets of the suspects; 23 companies and a total of 114 vehicles belonging to these companies; and a total financial impact area valued at 6 billion 900 million lira, including the partnership shares of the companies and the companies' cryptocurrency wallets, were seized.
STATEMENT FROM THE HOLDING: WE HAVE FULL FAITH THAT JUSTICE WILL BE ESTABLISHED On the other hand, a statement regarding the investigation was made by CapitalTurk Holding, owned by Erkan Kork, who was detained. The statement included, "Chairman of the Board Erkan Kork and his colleagues have been detained due to the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. We have full faith that justice will be established in this process. Statements regarding the process will be made without violating the confidentiality of the investigation to inform the public."
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