19.10.2026 07:30
It was announced that Emir Sarıgül, for whom an arrest warrant had been issued as part of a money laundering investigation, went to the police department with his lawyer. Mustafa Sarıgül, making a statement about his son, argued that the documents at issue in the investigation were fake and said, 'The only party harmed in this incident is me and my family.' Rejecting the accusations, Sarıgül emphasized the presumption of innocence and stated that no one should be accused in advance because of their surname.
Mustafa Sarıgül, MP for Erzincan from the YENİ Party, made a statement regarding the arrest warrant issued for his son Emir Sarıgül. Sarıgül announced that his son went to the police station together with his lawyer after his lawyer returned from abroad. Sarıgül stated that meetings were held with the people who caused the investigation for the purpose of bringing investment to Turkey, and claimed that the documents presented by those people were fake.
“MY SON EMİR SARIGÜL WENT TO THE POLICE STATION TOGETHER WITH HIS LAWYER”
In a statement on his social media account, Sarıgül said the following: “In order to inform the public correctly about the investigation that began on October 16, 2026, I would like to state the following: Public power is exercised by public officials. Mustafa Sarıgül is not a public official but an elected MP. He is an opposition MP. He has no public power that he uses or will use. There is no public loss caused by the meetings held with the persons who caused the investigation to be opened. No public tender, land, credit, etc. was given to the persons. No such promise was made.
The only party harmed in this incident is me and my family. The persons who caused the investigation to be opened were met with the thought, ‘Can we bring investment to Turkey?’ Upon understanding—albeit late—that these persons’ investment projects were fabricated and aimed at fraud, contact was cut off. The documents, contracts, bank receipts, and notary certifications put forward by the persons who caused the investigation are fake and fabricated. Our lawyers will share all information and documents related to this with the investigation authorities.
When the individuals could not obtain results from the blackmail they carried out directly and indirectly, they contacted journalist Murat Ağırel in order to strengthen this blackmail through public pressure. After Mr. Ağırel wanted to examine and verify the claims and documents that reached him, to listen to the parties, and approached them with suspicion, they filed a complaint against family members and journalist Murat Ağırel with the Financial Crimes Combat Unit.
During this investigation, it was determined that some news websites and social media accounts published a prejudgment or false news item into circulation on the internet, and then hundreds of news sites shared them with the same headline and content. I thank the news sites, newspapers, and television channels that did not use this false news or information without verifying it. As a person who throughout his life has never slung mud at a single person or institution and has never departed from political and social courtesy, I call on the public’s common sense:
Justice is the foundation of the state. No one should be subjected to discrimination or injustice because of their surname. No one should be accused in advance just because they have a well-known surname. Courts decide what the crime is, who committed it, and what its punishment is. Everyone is innocent until this decision becomes final. Showing respect for people’s honor, dignity, and reputation is both a moral obligation and a legal responsibility.
The rule of law, the presumption of innocence, and the right not to be stigmatized are necessary for everyone. Protecting these principles and rights is in everyone’s interest. My son Emir Sarıgül went to the police station together with his lawyer after his lawyer returned from abroad. Respectfully announced to the public.”
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation into money laundering allegations following a complaint by German businesspeople. Within the scope of the investigation, a detention order was issued for 6 people, including Mustafa Sarıgül's ex-wife Aylin Kotil, his son Emir Sarıgül, and journalist Murat Ağırel. In the investigation, meetings held with German businesspeople, money transfers, and documents alleged to have been drawn up between the parties were the subject of examination.
According to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's statement, German citizens K.P. and M.B. alleged that a large amount of money of unknown origin was laundered through companies established domestically and abroad. The complainants alleged that a contract worth 80 million euros was drawn up, a transfer of 100 million euros was made, it was promised that a fund of 1 billion euros would be transferred abroad by way of a loan by using public power and influence, and a boat sale worth 1.5 million euros was made.
The investigation was expanded after the complainants alleged that they were threatened after they forwarded the information and documents in their possession to journalist Murat Ağırel. On October 16, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a detention order for Emir Sarıgül, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner, and Murat Ağırel. The allegations against Mustafa Sarıgül were sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to be evaluated separately because he is an MP.