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A court in Istanbul has ordered the arrest of nine more suspects as part of an investigation into allegations that donations collected on behalf of Ahbap Dernegi were diverted into suspects' personal bank accounts.
Ahbap Dernegi is a Turkish humanitarian aid association founded by singer and philanthropist Haluk Levent, known for organizing relief campaigns following natural disasters, including major earthquakes.
The organization has come under judicial scrutiny following allegations of financial misconduct linked to some of its members and employees.
Oguzhan Ugur is among the nine suspects ordered formally arrested, out of the 10 who were detained and referred to the Istanbul Courthouse in the Caglayan district.
A magistrate's court ruled that Oguzhan Ugur, Gulgun Ozturk, Suzan Duskuner, Emir Tasar, Emre Kartaloglu, Huseyin Kucuk, Fatih Eke, Muharrem Karatas and Ersin Gokgun be arrested. A judicial control measure was imposed on a 10th suspect, Ozgur Omer Guner, rather than formal arrest.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is coordinating the investigation through the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit, examining allegations of forming a criminal organization, aggravated fraud and laundering proceeds of crime.
Financial intelligence reports on Ahbap Dernegi staff, along with account activity reviews and surveillance, reportedly identified high-value money transfers inconsistent with the suspects' financial profiles.
Investigators also found transfers into gambling accounts resulting in significant losses, as well as a rapid series of property deed transfers among the suspects.
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The latest arrests follow an earlier phase of the investigation in which 17 suspects connected to the association, including its founder Haluk Levent, were detained in an operation on July 12.
Of 25 suspects referred to court at that stage, 14, including Levent, were arrested, while 11 were placed under judicial control.
A separate, simultaneous operation by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command across Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli and Mugla led to 17 additional detentions, of whom four were arrested and eight placed under judicial control.
Assets belonging to the association and several suspects have been seized as part of the investigation.
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