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Ozgur Gokce, brother of restaurateur Nusret Gokce, known as Salt Bae, was arrested in Istanbul on April 27 on charges of facilitating child prostitution, prosecutors said.
Authorities said the case is part of a broader prostitution investigation led by the Kucukcekmece Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, specifically its bureau handling terrorism and organized crime.
The investigation began with an operation on Jan. 30 targeting suspects accused of mediating prostitution and providing locations for such activities, according to T24.
Prosecutors said forensic analysis of seized mobile phones revealed additional evidence, including:
Based on these findings, authorities launched a second operation on April 17. Seven suspects were arrested, while six others were released under judicial control measures.
Within the scope of the same investigation, prosecutors issued a detention order for Ozgur Gokce on April 24. He was formally questioned on April 27 and subsequently referred to a criminal court with a request for arrest.
He was later remanded in custody on charges defined under Article 227/1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes “facilitating child prostitution.”
Ozgur Gokce had previously been detained on April 12 as part of another investigation involving prostitution and narcotics, according to Haberturk.
In that case, statements alleged that he had introduced women and men to each other for financial gain. Gokce denied those accusations at the time and was released.
The latest arrest marks a significant escalation, with prosecutors linking him directly to allegations involving minors following newly uncovered evidence during the ongoing investigation.
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