Ahbap Association Investigation

Ahbap Association investigation is a judicial inquiry initiated on 12 July 2026 by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office following allegations that donations collected in the name of the Ahbap Association were transferred in large amounts to the personal accounts of certain suspects. The scope of the investigation was later expanded after claims emerged that earthquake donations had been used for purposes other than their intended aim. Within the scope of the investigation, numerous suspects including the association’s founder and president, singer Haluk Levent, as well as association employees, managers, and third parties, have been taken into custody. Investigations are being conducted against the suspects on charges of "forming an organization for the purpose of committing a crime", "laundering assets derived from crime", and "violating the Tax Procedure Law and the Associations Law".

Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on 12 July 2026 through its Media Communication Office that the investigation was launched following allegations that "donations collected in the name of the Ahbap Association were transferred in large amounts to the accounts of certain suspects". The statement indicated that due to intensified allegations that "donations raised due to the earthquake were taken abroad and used for purposes other than their intended aim", the scope of the investigation was broadened. It further stated that based on evidence gathered, operations were carried out resulting in the detention of suspects.

The Prosecutor’s Office’s written statement also included the following: "There is strong evidence that the association’s accounts were emptied through the transfer of foreign exchange instruments and funds to personal accounts; properties belonging to the association were registered in the names of suspicious individuals; under the negative and painful emotions caused by the 6 February 2023 earthquake, sensitive citizens who wished to donate had their contributions transferred by suspects to personal accounts, gambled on, and redirected to third parties, leading to the detention of suspects."

The statement also noted that the association’s founder, Haluk Levent, used the bank accounts of many suspects, one of which was registered in the name of his assistant Yeliz Kaya. Approximately 120 million lira was identified as having flowed from the Ahbap Association into Kaya’s personal account, which was used by Levent. It was also reported that between 2020 and 2026, Levent used the account of suspect Alper Çelik, one of the association’s founders, to place legal bets amounting to 990 million lira, losing approximately 390 million lira. It was recorded that Levent’s inability to maintain a personal bank account and his use of checks that were dishonored in commercial transactions increased suspicions regarding his ability to place bets of such magnitude.

The statement further noted that in a separate investigation, properties were acquired from victims under the guise of the association’s name and donation promises; properties transferred to Yeliz Kaya were later registered in the names of other suspects, resulting in an estimated 60 million dollars in damages.

Haluk Levent was taken into custody on 12 July 2026 (Sunday) in Bursa by the Istanbul Police Directorate’s Unit for Combating Financial Crimes, under an investigation initiated on charges of "violating the Associations Law", "laundering assets derived from crime", and "membership in an organization". Levent, once detained, was transported to the Istanbul Police Directorate for questioning.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated in his 14 July 2026 announcement that Levent was taken into custody on Sunday due to an attempt to flee despite having previously been subject to a travel ban.

According to CNN Türk, Levent had been scheduled to perform a concert in Istanbul’s Ataşehir district on Friday, 17 July 2026, but ticket sales were canceled a day earlier, raising suspicions among investigators. As a result, Levent was placed under technical surveillance and on Thursday a travel ban was imposed. Surveillance revealed that Levent, unaware of the travel ban, went to Istanbul Airport intending to fly to Germany; upon learning of the ban, he changed his route to Bursa and then to İzmir, preparing to escape by sea via yacht. Based on these findings, an operation was launched and Levent was detained in Bursa.

Under the investigation, the Istanbul Police Directorate’s Unit for Combating Financial Crimes, coordinated by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, conducted operations aimed at preventing and apprehending suspects involved in the crimes of "forming an organization for the purpose of committing a crime", "qualified fraud", and "laundering assets derived from crime". MASAK reports on Ahbap Association staff, analysis of account movements, and technical and physical surveillance revealed suspiciously high-value financial transactions inconsistent with the suspects’ financial profiles, including large transfers among themselves, substantial deposits into gambling accounts resulting in significant losses, and a series of rapid, chain-like property transfers. As a result, 17 suspects, including the association’s founder Haluk Levent, were detained in an operation on 12 July, and an additional 7 suspects were apprehended during ongoing investigations. During the initial operation on the same date, numerous digital materials, cash, gold, checks, promissory notes, and various documents were seized from the suspects’ residences.

The number of detentions increased progressively. On 13 July 2026, news reports indicated that the number of detainees had reached 21 individuals. Later that day, the number rose to 22 after one more suspect was apprehended. Subsequently, the number of suspects subject to detention orders was announced as 25. These individuals are listed as follows: Haluk Levent, Zafer Yay, Emrah Gödeliner, Şehmus Baştuğ, Halil Bostancı, Mehmet Ulu, Sevda Kurt, Yasin Meydaneri, Recep Sancak, Abdülcevat Özkan, Kemal Ötünç, Nurdan Eriş, Gülşen Öztürk, Erhan Dökmeci, Merve Yılman, Yusuf Can Ertit, Tuğba Serbest Bıçak, İlker Çetin, Esin Önder Çağlayan, Yeliz Kaya, Ece Güner, Alper Çelik, Müge Sözen Çelik, Ali Barış Kaya, Banu Eren and Buse Vurucu.

On 14 July 2026, the Istanbul Gendarmerie Command’s Unit for Combating Smuggling and Organized Crime conducted simultaneous operations in Istanbul, İzmir, Kocaeli, and Muğra targeting 14 suspects and four companies. The statement indicated that the suspects were apprehended and a large volume of digital materials was seized. On the same day, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that under the investigation conducted by the Organized Crime Investigation Office, detention orders were issued against an additional 17 suspects, three of whom were already in prison on other charges. Thus, the total number of detentions rose to 42, including the initial 25. The names of the 14 suspects detained in the second phase were listed as follows: "Çiğdem Acil, Sedat Konca, Mert and Berk Ulu, Aytaç, Ceyda, Muzaffer and Güney Köse, Alev Tohumcu, Ali Sungur Ariç, Batuhan Coşkundeniz, Gözde Aktı, Burak Özcan and Erkin Köse."

On 15 July 2026, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that the procedures for 24 suspects, including Haluk Levent, had been completed at the Istanbul Police Directorate’s Unit for Combating Financial Crimes. Of these, 23 were transferred to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan for further proceedings, while one suspect was released after completing formalities. It was noted that the procedures for the 17 suspects detained by the Gendarmerie were still ongoing.

As part of the investigation, a report prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) was incorporated into the case file. The report noted that intensive financial transfers between suspects Alper Çelik, Zafer Yay, and Emrah Gödeliner, as well as with numerous individuals working at the association, were highly suspicious, particularly the transfers related to the Ahbap Association, which required explanation.

The report indicated that suspect Alper Çelik was registered as a "musician" in November 2024, with a monthly taxable income of 20,000 lira, and no association with any company as partner or manager, but was listed as a member of the association. Two separate public prosecutor offices had opened investigations against him for "theft by means of specialized skill" and "fraud", and two courts had opened prosecution files for "use of a worthless promissory note". Examination of his account movements and an oral interview with officials from a betting company revealed that Çelik placed bets worth 190,270,000 lira and lost them. The report noted that his account activity, inconsistent with his financial profile, increased significantly from the first quarter of 2020 to the last quarter of 2024.

Suspect Zafer Yay was last recorded as an "event coordinator" in February 2023, with a monthly taxable income of 9,000 lira, and was registered as manager of one company and member, founder, or manager of three associations. He had investigation files in four separate prosecutor offices for "forgery of official documents", "purchase or acceptance of criminal proceeds", "fraud", "purchase, acceptance, possession, or use of narcotics or stimulants for personal use", and "simple assault". He also had prosecution files in three courts for "forgery of official documents", "purchase, acceptance, or possession of narcotics or stimulants for personal use", and "intentional injury".

Suspect Emrah Gödeliner was recorded as working as a "tour operator" in November 2024 with a monthly income of 38,000 lira and had worked at the Ahbap Association between 2021 and 2022. He had a UYAP record for charges of "forgery of official documents", "fraud through use of information systems as a tool for banks or credit institutions", "fraud", "violation of the Tax Procedure Law", "abuse of trust", and "forming an organization for the purpose of committing a crime". The General Directorate of Security’s Cyber Crimes Department requested MASAK to investigate him for "violation of the Law on Betting and Chance Games in Football and Other Sports" and "laundering assets derived from crime", and this investigation is ongoing. Attention was drawn to Gödeliner’s involvement in laundering through cryptocurrency.

The report emphasized that transfers to and from the suspects’ accounts far exceeded their financial profiles, including transfers with unexplained purposes. These transfers were labeled with suspicious descriptions such as "debt repayment", "loan", "loan repayment", "debt for hlk", "debt for Ahbap activities", "Ahbap", "Ahbap debt", "I am lending", "debt for Haluk", "Haluk Levent debt settlement", "Haluk Levent urgent promissory note settlement", "Haluk Levent-Ahbap", "loan provided for Ahbap activities", "Haluk Levent loan funds", and "debt for Ahbap Association".

The MASAK report’s conclusion stated: "The intensive financial transfers between the individuals under analysis and numerous persons working in or managing the Ahbap Association are highly suspicious; transfers between these individuals and particularly those related to the Ahbap Association require explanation; it is assessed that it must be investigated whether these individuals misused the association."

In the Prosecutor’s Office announcement of 14 July 2026, it was stated that Haluk Levent’s brother, Berkant Acil, who was detained in a bribery investigation concerning the Şile Municipality, directly obtained the 35th International Şile Linen Festival through Sur Music Production Company as a front, using direct procurement methods. The tender was deemed irregular; suspects inflated expenses for stage, lighting, and sound equipment through falsified invoices, a finding confirmed by a financial expert report.

The statement further noted that part of the donations to the Ahbap Association were transferred to Yeliz Kaya’s personal account, from which 125,765,000 lira was transferred to the accounts of Berkant Acil and related individuals and companies. It was emphasized that this constituted unlawful gain and misuse of donations for purposes other than their intended aim.

Haluk Levent’s questioning at the police directorate began on 14 July 2026. In his statement, Levent described his monthly income as "uncertain" and declared he did not wish to benefit from provisions for voluntary repentance. When questioned about properties, vehicles, and other assets registered in his name, he stated that he owned no assets registered under his name, nor did he possess or use any property, vehicle, or other asset not formally registered to him.

Levent claimed in his statement that he was an informal partner in Risus Organization Ltd., a company operating in the event and music sector, whose official owner appeared to be suspect Zafer Yay, but from which he derived no income. When asked to declare bank accounts, brokerage firms, investment accounts, and credit cards, he stated: "I manage the accounts registered in the name of Yeliz Kaya at Vakıfbank and Halkbank. The money I earn from concerts is deposited into these accounts and I use the funds. I do not use a bank account in my own name. I have accounts at brokerage firms registered under Zafer Yay’s name. I previously had one credit card in my name, but it is now closed and I do not use any credit cards."

In response to questions regarding who held authority over the Ahbap Association’s activities and finances, Levent defended the association as a mutual aid network, adding: "For the first two years after its founding, I fully financed the Ahbap Association. I personally funded all aid. After the Elazığ earthquake, donations began arriving. I began using these donations to assist our citizens. The board of directors changed occasionally. The authority to withdraw funds at banks is in my name. I am the sole financial authority of the association. We have no funds in intermediary institutions." Levent stated that he founded the association in 2016 or 2017.

When asked about the total amount raised for the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Levent responded that 4.3 billion lira had been collected, claiming that nearly all funds had been spent in the affected region and that all expenditures were documented with invoices and delivery receipts.

Levent claimed his detention was related to a situation that began in 2026, stating: "I wanted to donate 20 immovable properties, valued at 150 million lira at current prices, to the Ahbap Association for 80 million lira to generate profit for the association, and I obtained a board resolution for this in the association’s minutes. The 80 million lira is my own money. In return, the association has 20 apartments. We submitted an application for these 20 apartments to the Çerkezköy Land Registry in early March, but they were not transferred... The title deeds did not arrive by Friday, and had they arrived, the 80 million lira received by Yeliz Kaya over the past year, including interest, would have been legally settled. But since they did not arrive, the 80 million lira received by Yeliz Kaya — which is my money — is now being treated as if it were part of an organized group’s activities, depending on how it was used over the months."

Levent made the following statements: "Unfortunately, as Haluk Levent, I have not properly managed myself, my surroundings, or my affairs. I used Ahbap checks and promissory notes as collateral in some places. I accumulated substantial debt. You may call this irregularity, but you cannot call it corruption. Until the end of this year, I was in the process of correcting every irregularity by recording it in Ahbap’s ledgers, but I was not permitted to do so." He added: "I have a bad habit of trading on the stock market. The economic costs imposed on me by the first two years of the earthquake led me to trade more on the stock market and take greater risks. I borrowed all this money. I never took money from the Ahbap Association to gamble."

When asked about his relationship with complainant Hüseyin Başaran, Levent responded: "I became aware of the investigation and accusations against me. The real estate transactions between me and Hüseyin Başaran, a complainant in this case, relate to a debt and receivable dispute. There is no fraud involved. I consider this matter a civil legal dispute. Moreover, the properties in question are not of the amount alleged. I have also made some payments. I do not wish to make any further statements regarding the accusations. I wish to provide detailed testimony before the Public Prosecutor’s Office."

İlker Çetin, detained in the investigation and who served as Haluk Levent’s driver for approximately 3.5 years before leaving his position a year ago, claimed in his statement that his and other employees’ bank accounts were used by Levent for fund transfers. Çetin stated: "He does not use my account via phone, but asks me to provide my IBAN to others to receive transfers. He instructs me to send the money received in my account to the people he names, using my IBAN. I already gave him the password to my phone when I surrendered it in Bandırma. He personally sent me instructions via WhatsApp regarding these IBAN-related transactions. Haluk Levent described the money coming to me as a debt... Levent does not have a credit or bank card. He sends money through the accounts of Emrah Gödeliner, Zafer Yay, and Yeliz Kaya, which he uses."

Çetin also stated: "As far as I know and have seen, when Haluk Levent traveled to Cyprus, he gambled." He claimed he used his account to buy chips for Levent at casinos, noting that during concert trips to Cyprus, amounts between 1 and 2 million lira were noticeable. MASAK’s account analysis confirmed that between 2022 and 2024, 6.5 million lira was transferred to his account from Zafer Yay, and approximately 2 million lira was sent from his account to Yay’s. It was also recorded that transfers between 2.8 million and 8.355 million lira occurred between Çetin and Alper Çelik, which he claimed were made at Levent’s direction as assistance due to Levent being his employer.

MASAK’s review also showed that 10 million lira was transferred to Çetin’s account from Yeliz Kaya, and that Çetin had transferred 210 million lira to Kaya. Çetin responded to this: "Haluk Levent used my account to send money to Yeliz Kaya and other personal debts. I acted solely on Haluk Levent’s requests and orders." Çetin claimed that the accounts of suspects Halil Bostancı and C.K. were also used, that he was uncomfortable with this but feared losing his job and therefore did not question it, and that he preserved all correspondence as evidence.

Lawyer Ece Güner, detained in the operation, stated in her questioning that she had donated to the Ahbap Association for the past five to six years but denied acting as Levent’s lawyer or advisor. Güner claimed she met Levent in May or June 2023, when he visited her office requesting a two-week loan due to a cash shortage in the earthquake zone, and that he sent her approximately 300–400 thousand dollars, which he repaid on time. She further claimed he later requested another loan and repaid it again.

In her statement, Güner claimed that an entrepreneur had promised a 3 million dollar donation for a technology park to be established under the Ahbap Association’s auspices in Ankara, but could not send the funds due to tax issues, prompting Güner to lend 3 million dollars. She said she provided 1 million dollars but faced great difficulty recovering it: "He gave me excuses, telling me he would repay the debt in about three months, and told me long stories. Despite not repaying the debt, he repeatedly asked for additional loans. He constantly told me heartbreaking stories about his and his family’s health." Güner claimed she then lent an additional 570 thousand dollars and was able to recover these amounts gradually over the following year.

Güner stated that Levent requested she send the requested funds not to her own account but to those of other individuals. When she asked why, he replied: "These friends need the money on the ground and urgently, so it must be done this way."

As part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, procedures for 24 suspects, including Haluk Levent, were completed at the Istanbul Police Directorate’s Unit for Combating Financial Crimes on the morning of 15 July 2026. After undergoing medical checks, 23 suspects were transferred to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, while one suspect was released after completing formalities.

Following the statements of suspects taken into custody by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, the indictment requesting detention includes new findings. The document states that the Ahbap Association, established by suspect Haluk Levent, does not have the legal status of an organization serving the public interest.

The document notes that following the devastating earthquake disaster of 2023, substantial financial donations were made to the association driven by deep humanitarian sentiments, with funds accumulating to a significant scale amounting to billions. It further states that coordination and organization of these donations were generally carried out by Haluk Levent. After 2023, strong indications suggest that these funds were neither managed nor spent in a transparent or verifiable manner. These suspicions and pieces of evidence have been reinforced by both the suspect’s personal weaknesses and financial situation and the findings of the MASAK report.

Within the scope of the deepened investigation, the document highlights concrete findings indicating that the Ahbap Association’s assets have been diminished and its real estate disposed of. It is noted that MASAK’s investigation and evidence-gathering operations are being conducted comprehensively to determine the amounts donated to the association and the amounts expended from its budget. The document states that there is strong suspicion of criminal activity by the suspects, and sufficient grounds exist for detention.^【1】

Emrah Gödeliner, taken into custody, stated in his police interview that his monthly income is 200,000 lira and identified himself as a businessman. He said he was one of the founding members of the association and left the Board of Directors in 2021. Gödeliner recounted that he requested Haluk Levent to continue his insurance coverage through the association and emphasized that he never used or had authority over the association’s bank accounts. When asked about the source of high-value financial transfers between him and other suspects, Gödeliner responded: “The reason these funds exist is Haluk Levent. These amounts entered and exited my account on his behalf. In fact, he personally went to a government institution whose name I cannot recall and declared that he was using these accounts. I do not know the source of these funds... These transfers were consistently in the form of loans and repayments.”^【2】

Zafer Yay, who has been driving for Haluk Levent for 30 years and claims to have no other role in the Ahbap Association, responded to questions about high-value financial transfers between him and other suspects as follows: “I have worked alongside Haluk Levent for a long time. Since the beginning of my employment, some of the amounts he earned were deposited into my account. When I asked him why, he said he was having difficulties with banks due to debts and therefore some of his money would be transferred to my account, after which I would transfer them to locations he specified... Some of the money I received was from concerts, but I do not know exactly what the rest was for.”^【3】

In her police statement, suspect Sevda Kurt said she went to the United States in 2000 to learn a language, returned to Türkiye in 2017, and transferred five million dollars she had earned to her Turkish account. She stated that since she was financially secure, she retired in Türkiye. Kurt explained that she supported many associations to help those in need and trusted the association, but claims she was defrauded of approximately 90 million lira by Levent: “He took this money from me by exploiting my generosity. This caused me severe financial hardship... I was defrauded and victimized by Haluk Levent’s criminal organization. I am filing a complaint against Levent and those who participated in this crime with him.”^【4】

In her statement, suspect Yeliz Kaya said she is a salaried employee and uses all her accounts strictly according to Levent’s instructions. Kaya stated that her only connection with Berkant Acil was transferring money as directed by Levent: “All financial transfers between the Ahbap Association and my account were carried out entirely on his orders. Haluk Bey told me that as the president of the association, he could borrow from it.” Kaya further declared: “The signatures on checks issued in my name were forged by Haluk Levent as my signature—even the signature he forged is not mine... I am in a very difficult situation, detained, and these are my only statements. I incurred debts with banks because of him, my credit cards are exhausted, and Haluk Levent has trapped me because of his own debts.”^【5】

Esin Önder Çağlayan, taken into custody, stated in his police interview that his monthly income is 400,000 lira and identified himself as a company official. He said he met Yeliz Kaya through his 15-year friendship with Haluk Levent and has had a long-standing pattern of borrowing and lending with Levent. Çağlayan stated that he sent the requested funds to Yeliz Kaya’s bank account, whom he identified as Levent’s assistant and accountant. Çağlayan reported that in June 2025, Levent’s managers Müge Sözen Küçük and H.K. came to him and informed him that he had a contract worth 10 million dollars from a company for advertising, but due to humanitarian activities, Levent had personally committed to providing support and requested 8 million dollars from him in installments.

Çağlayan said Levent told him that in return for his debts, he would transfer real estate properties he was to receive from contractors. In this manner, Çağlayan claims he sent Levent approximately 70 million dollars in installments and received 68 real estate properties in return, with a combined expert valuation of 35 million dollars: “These properties are still registered in my name, and no transfer to any third party has been made.” When asked about properties acquired from Yeliz Kaya and originally owned by Başaran Holding, Çağlayan stated that bank expert reports on these properties showed a combined value of 24.8 million dollars for 22 properties, yet according to a contract dated 17 May 2026 between Haluk Levent, the Ahbap Association, and himself, a total payment of 28.5 million dollars was made for these properties. Çağlayan claimed he was defrauded through exploitation of his conscience and filed a complaint against Haluk Levent.^【6】

The investigation conducted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, which led to the custody of 26 suspects including the association’s founder Haluk Levent, was completed on 15 July 2026 at the Istanbul Police Directorate’s Unit for Combating Financial Crimes. Of the suspects, 25 were referred to the Istanbul Courthouse, while one was released after procedures. Of the suspects who gave statements to the prosecution, 19 were requested for detention and six were referred to the Peace Criminal Court for judicial control.

The names of suspects for whom detention is requested are as follows: "Haluk Levent, Zafer Yay, Emrah Gödeliner, Şehmus Baştuğ, Halil Bostancı, Mehmet Ulu, Abdülcevat Özkan, Kemal Öztünç, Erhan Dökmeci, Yusuf Can Ertit, İlker Çetin, Yeliz Kaya, Ece Güner, Sevda Kurt, Nurdan Eriş, Gonca Akdemir, Ali Barış Kaya, Müge Sözen Küçük and Recep Sancak. Suspects Gülşen Öztürk, Merve Yılman, Tuğba Serbest, Buse Vurucu and Yasin Meydaneri were referred to the court with requests for judicial control. It was reported that judicial control with the condition of not leaving the residence was requested for suspect Esin Önder Çağlayan. The procedures for 17 suspects taken into custody by gendarmerie units are still ongoing.^【7】

During the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, a detention order was issued against ten suspects: Haluk Levent, Kemal Ötünç, Şehmus Baştuğ, Abdülcevat Özkan, Emrah Gödeliner, Erhan Dökmeci, Halil Bostancı, Mehmet Ulu, Yeliz Kaya and Zafer Yay. The decision states that, based on the current evidence, concrete elements demonstrating strong suspicion of criminal activity have been identified. These include statements obtained within the scope of the file, information and documents regarding account transactions, the MASAK report, records of telephone examinations, police reports, all investigation documents, as well as concrete evidence indicating that the assets of Ahbap Association had been diminished and its real estate disposed of. It was noted that investigations into donations received by the association and expenditures made from its budget were ongoing and that not all evidence in the file had yet been collected, leading to the decision to detain the ten suspects.

In a statement issued by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was announced that within the scope of the investigation into Ahbap Association, all allegations regarding the use of donations and aid collected by the association following the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on 6 February 2023 had been thoroughly examined. Accordingly, it was decided to appoint an expert panel composed of specialists in the field. The statement included the following: “A panel of experts has been appointed to determine whether the donations and aid collected for the purpose of achieving designated objectives were used in accordance with applicable regulations. The expert panel will examine all financial records relating to the collection, transfer and expenditure of donations, bank account transactions, fund transfers between relevant individuals and companies, and all information and documents obtained during the investigation to prepare a detailed report.” It was emphasized that the investigation is being conducted solely in accordance with concrete information, documents and evidence, while upholding the rule of law and the presumption of innocence.

The procedures for a portion of the suspects taken into custody by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command’s Smuggling and Organized Crime Prevention Branch were completed on 16 July 2026. On the same day, one suspect whose procedures were finalized at the gendarmerie and a total of twelve suspects transferred to the court gave statements at the prosecutor’s office. Following these proceedings, Arif Sevik, Berk Ulu, Berkant Acil, Erkin Köse, M. Sait Köse and Mert Ulu were ordered detained, while Alev Tohumcu, Batuhan Coşkundeniz, Ceyda Köse, Çiğdem Acil, Gözde Aktı and Sedat Konca were referred to the peace criminal court for judicial control.

The court decided to detain Arif Sevik, Berkant Acil, Erkin Köse and M. Sait Köse, and to release the others under judicial control. It was noted that procedures for five other suspects still in custody remain ongoing. Additionally, assets belonging to the association and certain suspects were seized during the investigation.

A report dated 17 July 2026 confirmed that of the twelve suspects taken into custody and referred to court by the gendarmerie, four were ordered detained and eight were placed under judicial control.

On 17 July 2026, as part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, custody orders were issued against nine additional suspects. As a result, Oğuzhan Uğur, Gülgün Öztürk, Suzan Düşküner, Emir Taşar, Emre Kartaloğlu, Hüseyin Küçük and Fatih Eke were taken into custody by police units. It was learned that among those detained were employees and financial auditors of Ahbap Association, as well as one suspect active in the cryptocurrency sector. The suspects taken to the police station are expected to be referred to court on 20 July.

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek made a statement on his social media account on 16 July 2026 regarding the investigation into Ahbap Association conducted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office. Gürlek stated that every donation made by the public with a spirit of sacrifice and solidarity following the 6 February earthquakes was a precious trust delivered to those in need, and that verifying whether these funds were used for their intended purposes was a requirement of public conscience and the people’s trust in justice. The minister emphasized that the decision to appoint an expert review panel represents a crucial step in examining all financial processes related to the collection and expenditure of donations, based on concrete information and documentation.

Gürlek stated: "We will never allow the exploitation of this generosity and solidarity, nor the betrayal of the expectations of our citizens who donated in good faith... The accounting of every donation made by our nation out of compassion must clearly reveal where and for what purpose the funds were used. Our citizens must feel secure. The Turkish judiciary acts solely on the basis of concrete evidence and the law, not on perceptions or social media campaigns. Allegations that cast doubt on the trust and trustworthiness of our people will be examined to their fullest extent; no act that exploits the spirit of solidarity will go unanswered."

On 16 July 2026, during the opening of the "Judicial Evaluation Meeting" held in Ankara by the General Directorate of Penal Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, Minister Gürlek also made statements regarding the investigation into Ahbap Association. Emphasizing that this investigation demonstrates the state’s firm commitment to the good faith and trust of its citizens, Gürlek continued: "Of course, our transparent and accountable civil society organizations that work shoulder to shoulder with the state during disasters, crises and moments of social solidarity are our greatest assets... However, civil society organizations cannot use legal oversight as a shield to evade accountability, act arbitrarily or manage the nation’s trust without reporting. Solidarity cannot be exploited. Transparency for civil society organizations is not a choice or a favor—it is a legal and moral obligation... The accounting of every lira collected as a donation must clearly show where and for what purpose it was used. No organization operating with the trust of our people can assume it is exempt from state oversight."

Minister Gürlek emphasized that the Turkish judiciary does not act according to artificially created social media agendas, hashtag campaigns or perception operations, but solely on concrete evidence and the law. He noted that no one is presumed guilty in advance and no one is above the law, adding: "The Turkish judiciary will illuminate this process with meticulous care and without leaving any room for doubt, fully revealing all consequences. Our citizens must feel secure. No donation made with good faith, even at the cost of personal sacrifice, will be wasted or misused for personal gain. We stand firm against every act that exploits the trust of our nation and will fight to the end within the bounds of the law.

Among the founders of the association under investigation with an arrest warrant, Alper Çelik was apprehended on 17 July 2026 while conducting a notarial procedure. Following procedures at the police station, Çelik was transferred to the courthouse and, after giving a statement to the prosecutor, was sent to the on-duty peace criminal judge, who ordered his detention.

Suspect Hüseyin Küçük, former member of the Board of Directors and treasurer of Ahbap Derneği, stated during his interrogation at the Istanbul Police Directorate’s Anti-Financial Crimes Unit that he had served on the association’s board and left in May 2024. He claimed to have held the position of treasurer between 2022 and May 2024, during which time he worked to ensure that donations received by the association were spent appropriately and delivered to those in need. Küçük asserted that during the earthquake period, they signed and finalized between 50 and 60 contracts per day, carried out hundreds of procurement operations, and that all purchases were made below market prices. He added that inspections confirmed these materials were delivered to beneficiaries in the earthquake zone.

Regarding the total amount of aid collected by Ahbap Derneği, Küçük stated: "As far as I know, approximately 4 billion Turkish Lira was raised. This money was spent in accordance with the needs reported from the region and specifically in line with the needs communicated to us by AFAD officials, governors, and district governors since the first day of the earthquake, and was delivered to the disaster area."

Küçük, asserting that the association’s activities were monitored, said: "Both the Istanbul Governorship and the Ministry of Interior examined the association and reported that our operations were conducted properly and correctly. Most recently, in 2025, the Ministry of Interior’s General Inspectorate of Civil Administration conducted inspections and found no misconduct or problems, including during my tenure, which ended in May 2024."

Regarding the presence of check images on his phone, Küçük stated: "After we left the management of Ahbap Derneği, Haluk Levent issued checks in the name of Ahbap Derneği Economic Enterprise. These checks were used extensively in his personal commercial receivables and payables. When I learned that these checks had been withdrawn from the bank and distributed to other individuals, I became extremely angry and had major confrontations with both Haluk Levent and Yeliz Kaya, who was involved in the turnover." Küçük argued that during his tenure, it was impossible for the Board of Directors to have permitted any irregularities, and that all alleged irregularities in the case file occurred after May 2024. He claimed that the subsequent Board of Directors was composed of Ahbap employees who could not say "no" to Haluk Levent.

Suspect Fatih Eke stated in his testimony that he had previously been involved in cryptocurrency exchanges and share trading. He indicated that in early 2025, he sold the "Nigella Chain" ecosystem, which he had established in 2023 for promotional purposes, to Haluk Levent after Levent expressed interest in purchasing it. Eke noted that Levent changed the coin’s name to "HLK" and added: "Regarding this sale, Haluk Levent gave me checks, but I did not receive full payment for them. A lawsuit was filed over this matter, and Haluk Levent was also penalized for it." Eke stated that they agreed on a total consideration of seven million US dollars, that he received checks worth approximately three million US dollars, and that the remaining four million US dollars included about one million US dollars paid in cash and via bank transfer.

Eke further stated: "(Haluk Levent) asked me to build a school in Hatay Samandağ for Ahbap Derneği. It was named Nigella Surf Center. After he purchased the project, he deducted 1.5 million US dollars from this sale account for the school. I still owed approximately 1.5 million US dollars to software developers and other technical parties. He said he would pay them, but he never did... When I demanded payment for not building the school, he paid me around 250,000 US dollars." Eke claimed he had no connection whatsoever with Ahbap Derneği and that he was a victim of commercial dealings with Haluk Levent.

Alper Çelik, who gave a statement at the Istanbul Police Directorate’s Anti-Financial Crimes Unit seeking benefit from provisions on effective remorse, stated that he is a musician and works in advertising, with a monthly income of 30,000 liras. He confirmed that his insurance is provided by Artar Prodüksiyon and that he has been assisting Haluk Levent in his business affairs for nearly 20 years. He also stated that he holds bank accounts and credit cards at four banks. Çelik explained that because Levent’s bank accounts were blocked, he provided his own bank accounts for Levent’s use.

Çelik stated that he previously placed bets and that Levent also placed bets using different usernames on betting sites linked to his accounts. He said: "Haluk Levent would tell me to send money to the betting site account, and he would place the bets. He often told me which matches to bet on, I would deposit the money, and I would place bets on the matches he specified." Çelik claimed that Haluk Levent is the founder of the association, that he joined the association’s founding process after being contacted by Levent, and that he left the association in 2021.

When questioned about 1,359 transactions totaling 138,593,208 liras deposited into his account by detained suspect Zafer Yay, and 213 withdrawals totaling 24,352,763 liras transferred from his account to Yay, Çelik responded: "These transfers were made under Levent’s instructions. These funds generally went toward betting, stock trading, or debt repayments." When asked to explain transactions on his account that far exceeded his personal financial profile, Çelik defended himself by saying: "These funds arrived and departed under Haluk Levent’s instructions. I noticed these transactions, especially those labeled as 'Ahbap debts' or similar, and asked him about them. He replied, 'These are loans I received from people I know, and they have been repaid.' He used these funds for payments, betting, stock trading, and gambling."

Çelik was reminded that 89,090,663 liras were paid into his account through 1,894 transactions from the company Electronic Chance Games and Broadcasting Inc., while 279,367,817 liras were sent from his account to the same company through 6,126 transactions, and that 190,270,000 liras in betting coupons were placed and lost through these accounts. Çelik responded regarding the source of these funds: "Levent said he borrowed this money to gamble. I deposited the money under Levent’s instructions, and all bets placed were his." Regarding nine transactions totaling 3,007,567 liras transferred from his account to accounts of Merit Cyprus Tourism Ltd., Çelik stated: "Whenever Levent traveled to Cyprus, he asked me to deposit money into this account, and I did so. I do not know why I was asked to do this."

In his statement, Çelik declared: "I have suffered greatly in this matter. I have been with Levent for 20 years and know him well. One of the reasons I take anxiety and depression medication is because when his creditors could not reach him, they contacted me and subjected me to pressure and harassment. On one occasion, I was physically assaulted by others over debt transactions... He has financially and emotionally harmed me. I am innocent." In his statement before the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Çelik asserted that he consistently received instructions from Levent regarding bank transactions: "He usually wrote to me saying 'Place bets on these matches.' I followed his instructions. Sometimes he logged into my Nesine account himself to place bets, but because he did not want to bother, he always told me what to do. We really did lose the exact amounts he specified."

Çelik claimed ignorance of how Ahbap Derneği operated: "I cannot possibly know the details of the fund disbursements or their conditions. I do not know whether Haluk Levent used the association’s accounts himself... I have no knowledge of or involvement with the association. I stated this during the police investigation and wish to benefit from provisions on effective remorse." He also stated that some goods stored in the association’s warehouses had spoiled and were not delivered to the intended recipients.

According to a report dated 20 July 2026, of the 25 suspects detained by the Istanbul Police Directorate, one has been released, 14—including Haluk Levent—have been detained, and 11 are under judicial supervision. Of the 17 suspects detained by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command, 12 were referred to court; four of them were detained and judicial supervision was ordered for the remaining eight. Thus, the total number of detainees in the investigation has risen to 18.

On 20 July 2026, it was reported that the police procedures for the detained suspects Oğuzhan Uğur, Gülgün Öztürk, Suzan Düşküner, Emir Taşar, Emre Kartaloğlu, Hüseyin Küçük, Fatih Eke, Muharrem Karataş, Ersin Gökgün, and Özgür Ömer Güner had been completed and that all ten were transferred to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan.