17.10.2025 16:04
As part of the investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the internal audit of the Central Bank, a public loss exceeding 100 million TL was identified at BKM, where it is the main shareholder. Eight individuals, including former Vice President Emrah Şener, have been arrested. Şener's signature is found on 200 TL banknotes.
As part of the investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Smuggling and Economic Crimes Bureau, following the criminal complaint made by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) on December 6, 2024, irregularities were detected in the Interbank Card Center (BKM) and related tenders.
FORMER CENTRAL BANK DEPUTY GOVERNOR AMONG THE SUSPECTS
In response to the criminal complaint; arrest warrants were issued for the suspects, including former Central Bank Deputy Governor Emrah Şener, Baran Aytaş, Bora Koç, Mehmet Fatih Demirbaş, Birol Kanbir, Osman Arslan, Hüseyin Halit Özdamar, Muhammed Güven, Çağkan Göktaş, İbrahim Şener, Mehmet Talha Durmuş, Erdoğan Alkan, Tolga Kurt, and Ekrem Gözenman.
IRREGULARITIES IN TENDERS
Irregularities were detected in the 'Chip Plastic Card Procurement Tender' and 'Specification and Applet Software Development Tender for Troy' conducted in 2023 at the Interbank Card Center (BKM), in which the CBRT is the main shareholder. Additionally, irregularities and violations of regulations regarding service procurements made without a tender from 'Boğaziçi Technology Transfer Office Inc.' and 'Be Bold Advertising Design Software Trade Limited Company', payments made through meal cards for scientific research conducted for students studying abroad, and the use of a corporate credit card allocated to former BKM General Manager Baran Aytaş were also investigated. An operation was carried out on October 10 as part of the investigation.
7 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
In the operation, former Central Bank Deputy Governor Emrah Şener, Baran Aytaş, Bora Koç, Mehmet Fatih Demirbaş, Birol Kanbir, Osman Arslan, and Muhammed Güven, whose signatures were on 200 lira banknotes, were arrested. Suspects Çağkan Göktaş, İbrahim Şener, and Hüseyin Halit Özdamar were released under judicial control. Arrest warrants were requested for Mehmet Talha Durmuş, Erdoğan Alkan, Tolga Kurt, and Ekrem Gözenman, who were found to be abroad.