Former MASAK Deputy Head questions the backdrop of the Ahbap operation: 'Are the Kızılay praises a coincidence?'

Following the detention of artist Haluk Levent on allegations of "illegal betting, money laundering, and membership in an organization," an expert in financial crimes and auditing has joined the public debate. Ramazan Başak, former Deputy Head of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), raised highly debated questions regarding the legal and financial dimensions of the investigation in a statement posted on his social media account.

Başak directly addressed the economic and judicial administration by tagging Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek and Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek in his notable post.

"KIZILAY PRAISES AND THE LYNCH CAMPAIGN STARTED SIMULTANEOUSLY"

Pointing out that a lynch campaign was rapidly launched on social media following the detention decision, Ramazan Başak drew attention to the fact that posts praising the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) were circulated simultaneously with this process. Focusing on the question marks in the background of the investigation, Başak questioned the functioning of audit mechanisms.

"WHY DID THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AND BANKS NOT SEE THIS FOR 5 YEARS?"

Addressing the authorized institutions regarding the accounts of the AHBAP Association and the alleged betting transactions, Başak listed the following critical questions:

Audit by the Department of Associations: "If the betting was conducted with association funds, how did the Ministry of Interior's Department of Associations fail to detect these transactions over a 5-year period?"

Suspicious Transaction Reports by Banks: "Since AHBAP's money is held in a bank, why did the 900 million TL betting transaction here not attract the attention of the relevant banks regarding Suspicious Transactions over such a long period?"

"HOW CAN EARTHQUAKE AID BE A SUBJECT OF 'CRIME PROCEEDS' AND 'LAUNDERING'?"

Touching upon the legal dimension of the incident and the accusation of "money laundering," the former MASAK Deputy Head highlighted a technical contradiction based on the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and financial legislation:

Predicate crime contradiction: "If it is claimed that there is money laundering, there must be a predicate crime according to TCK Article 282. Since assets collected from individuals and institutions for aid to earthquake victims cannot be crime proceeds under normal circumstances, how could a money laundering allegation be brought up?"

Is there a MASAK report?: "If a money laundering allegation is being made, has MASAK prepared a money laundering report in accordance with Law No. 5549?"

While no detailed statement has yet been issued by official authorities regarding the detention process, these technical questions raised on behalf of the public by Ramazan Başak, a former high-level bureaucrat, are expected to carry the debates regarding the course of the investigation to a new dimension.