16.10.2026 10:12
In the money laundering investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, journalist Murat Ağırel, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş and Cavidan Tanrah Artuner were detained. The claim by two German complainants that they were threatened after they delivered to journalist Murat Ağırel documents containing allegations of a promise to transfer a 1 billion euro fund abroad and a 100 million euro remittance sparked the operation.
Within the framework of the extensive investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an operation was carried out following allegations that high amounts of money of unknown origin were laundered through companies established at home and abroad. As part of the operation, journalists Murat Ağırel, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş and Cavidan Tanrah Artuner were detained. Search efforts for Emir Sarıgül, for whom a detention order has been issued, are ongoing.
IT STARTED WITH THE COMPLAINT OF TWO GERMANS
According to information obtained from sources at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the investigation was initiated upon the official applications of two complainants, German citizens K.P. and M.B. The complainants alleged that a contract worth 80 million euros was drawn up, a transfer of 100 million euros was made, and that a fund worth 1 billion euros was promised to be transferred abroad through a loan by using public power and influence. The investigation file also included an allegation that a boat worth 1.5 million euros was sold.
DOCUMENTS AND AUDIO RECORDINGS SENT TO MURAT AĞIREL WERE EXAMINED
One of the key points of the investigation was the documents delivered to journalist Murat Ağırel. It was learned that the complainants forwarded all information and documents related to the matter to journalist Murat Ağırel for him to report on. In their statements, the complainants alleged that after this information and these documents were passed on to the relevant persons, they were explicitly threatened.
Upon the joint evaluation of the audio and video recordings submitted by the complainants and the evidence obtained by the investigation authorities, a detention order was issued for Emir Sarıgül, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner and Murat Ağırel. In the simultaneous operation, Ağırel, Kotil, Ömer Sarıgül, Aslanbaş and Artuner were detained and taken to the police station.
MUSTAFA SARIGÜL'S FILE IS BEING SENT TO ANKARA
The allegations concerning Mustafa Sarıgül, who is named in the investigation file and is a member of the 28th Term Parliament of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, were separated from the main file due to parliamentary immunity and jurisdictional rules. It was reported that the allegations against Sarıgül will be sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to be evaluated separately.