29.10.2026 11:11
Striking fraud allegations were included in two separate notes said to have been left behind by businessman Aydın Çavuşoğlu, who died 12 days after his suicide attempt in Antalya. After the 8-page, 20-item text in which Çavuşoğlu was alleged to have accused his partner Mehmet Ş., criminal complaints were filed against 11 people. While it was claimed that company revenues were transferred to shell companies, it was reported that 5 suspects were detained within the scope of the investigation.
Businessman Aydın Çavuşoğlu, brother of former Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, attempted to take his own life on May 5, 2026. Çavuşoğlu died on May 17. According to a report by Patronlar Dünyası, two separate notes said to have been written by Çavuşoğlu emerged after his death. The first of these was a short note said to have been prepared in handwriting. It was stated that in this note, Çavuşoğlu accused his partner Mehmet Ş. of defrauding him and held him responsible for the decision to end his life.
It was reported that the second note was prepared directly addressed to Mehmet Ş. and consisted of eight pages and 20 items. It was stated that in the text in question, Çavuşoğlu described in detail how he believed his partner, with whom he had done business for many years, had defrauded him, the transactions he alleged involved company employees and other partners, and the irregularities he had identified.
APPLICATION MADE TO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AFTER HIS DEATH
After Çavuşoğlu's death, a criminal complaint was filed with the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In the complaint petition prepared, a total of 11 people, including Mehmet Ş., were named as suspects.
The complainant party alleged that Çavuşoğlu's trust had been abused and that he had been systematically defrauded by his partners. In the petition, it was claimed that the suspects established shell companies and caused damage to the companies in which Çavuşoğlu was a partner, and transferred company resources to their own accounts and affiliated companies.
It was stated that the originals of the notes said to have been left by Çavuşoğlu were in the investigation file at the Alanya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
"I DEFENDED YOU AGAINST EVERYONE"
The notes alleged to have been written by Çavuşoğlu addressed to Mehmet Ş. included statements about the trust he felt for his partner and the disappointment he experienced afterward.
Çavuşoğlu stated that in the past many people had warned him about his partnership with Mehmet Ş., but that despite these warnings he had defended his partner.
He alleged that some plots of land and projects were not registered in his own name due to his trust in Mehmet Ş., and that the properties in question were held in his partner's name.
The notes also included the financial transactions and company management practices that Çavuşoğlu claimed occurred throughout the partnership.
CLAIM THAT COMPANY REVENUES WERE TRANSFERRED TO AN UNOFFICIAL POOL
One of the claims said to be included in Çavuşoğlu's notes concerned revenues obtained from subtenants in the company's textile stores. According to the claim, 5 percent of the rents collected from subtenants based on turnover was transferred to an unofficial fund referred to within the company as the "pool," which was alleged to have been created by Mehmet Ş. for election and personal expenses. It was alleged that these transactions were concealed from Çavuşoğlu.
ALLEGATION OF UNRECORDED COLLECTIONS IN STORE TRANSFERS
Çavuşoğlu's notes also included allegations regarding the transfer transactions of textile stores outside Antalya. Çavuşoğlu stated that he had learned by chance that high amounts had been collected under the names of signage and transfer fees during the transfer of the stores, but that he had not been aware of these transactions previously.
It was alleged that the amounts in question were paid in cash to currency exchange offices, were not transferred to company accounts, and that no invoices were issued in return. According to Çavuşoğlu's allegations, Hilmi Bilal S. and Murat Y. played a role in organizing these transactions with Mehmet Ş.'s knowledge.
IT WAS ALLEGED THAT PROFIT WAS GENERATED THROUGH A SHELL COMPANY
Another claim in the notes concerned the supply process for textile products. Çavuşoğlu alleged that a shell company with a title similar to the company in which he was a partner was established through Muharrem Ş., the son of his partner Mehmet Ş., and Ali Kemal S., the brother of other partner Hilmi Bilal S.
According to the allegation, wholesale textile products were first purchased by this company and then sold to the main company in which Çavuşoğlu was a partner with a profit margin added. It was alleged that through this method the company was harmed and revenues were transferred to other companies.
11 SUSPECTS NAMED IN THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
In the complaint petition submitted to the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a total of 11 people were named as suspects. Among the suspects were Çavuşoğlu's partner Mehmet Ş. and his two sons, Süleyman Arıkan Ş. and Muharrem Ş.
The other suspects were listed as partner Hilmi Bilal S., his brothers Ali Kemal S. and Bekir S., along with Murat Y., Aycan F., Erhan A., Alpaslan A., and Tolga K. The complainant party claimed that through a structure it alleged Mehmet Ş. was at the center of, company revenues were transferred to shell companies and unofficial sources.
STATEMENTS OF REGRET AT THE END OF THE NOTES
It was reported that the final section of the notes said to have been left by Çavuşoğlu contained statements regarding his regret over the trust he had placed in Mehmet Ş.
It was alleged that Çavuşoğlu expressed embarrassment for not having taken into account the words of people who had warned him about his partner in the past.
5 SUSPECTS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Within the scope of the investigation, it was alleged that suspects Murat Y., Erhan A., Alpaslan A., Aycan F., and Tolga K. were taken into custody. It was claimed that there were also detention orders for Mehmet Ş., Muharrem Ş., Süleyman Arıkan Ş., Hilmi Bilal S., Ali Kemal S., and Bekir S.
However, it was alleged that the individuals in question could not be taken into custody because they had been abroad for a long time, and that arrest warrants were expected to be issued for them.
The notes said to have been prepared by Çavuşoğlu before his death contain numerous accusations regarding the companies' financial transactions and partnership relationships. The accuracy of the allegations in the complaint petition and the legal responsibilities of the suspects will be determined as a result of the judicial process underway.