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Social media influencer Oguzhan Ugur, best known for the popular Babala TV show, was detained on Friday as investigators broaden their probe into the Ahbap humanitarian association, following the arrest of its founder, Haluk Levent.
Ugur came into the spotlight after donating to Ahbap in the wake of the Feb. 6, 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye, when the association emerged as one of the country's most prominent aid organizations.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding Ugur's detention or the allegations against him.
The investigation is being led by the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutors are investigating allegations of establishing a criminal organization, aggravated fraud and laundering proceeds of crime.
The latest detention follows a second wave of raids targeting people and companies linked to Ahbap. Police carried out simultaneous operations in Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli and Mugla after a court ordered the pretrial arrest of Ahbap founder Haluk Levent and 13 other suspects, while 11 others were released under judicial supervision.
Investigators say MASAK reports, bank records, and technical and physical surveillance revealed financial transactions inconsistent with the suspects' declared income.
The allegations accuse the suspects of transferring large sums among themselves, depositing substantial amounts into betting accounts, losing money through gambling, and carrying out multiple property transfers within a short period.
Prosecutors further claim that donations collected by Ahbap, including funds raised after the 2023 earthquakes, were diverted through personal and associate-linked accounts before being transferred to related individuals and companies.
According to the initial findings cited in the investigation, Ahbap collected nearly ₺210 million ($5.2 million) in donations from abroad during the two years following the earthquakes, but the funds were not allegedly recorded in its official accounts.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said on Thursday that the investigation aims to determine whether donations collected after the February 2023 earthquakes were used for their intended purpose, stressing that prosecutors are acting on concrete evidence and in accordance with the law.
Gurlek said donations made by the public following the earthquakes were entrusted to aid those in need and that verifying how the funds were collected and spent was necessary to protect public confidence in both the justice system and state institutions.
He said prosecutors had ordered an expert financial review to examine the entire flow of donations, from their collection to their expenditure, based on financial records and other evidence to establish the facts without doubt.
Gurlek also said charitable organizations remain an essential part of Türkiye's social solidarity, but emphasized that no individual or organization is beyond legal scrutiny.
"Citizens should be reassured. The Turkish judiciary acts not according to perceptions or social media campaigns, but solely on the basis of concrete evidence and the law," Gurlek said, adding that authorities would thoroughly investigate allegations involving the misuse of donations and hold those responsible accountable if wrongdoing is established.
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