It was determined that they provided financing to FETÖ: How did MASAK identify Maydonoz Döner?

A significant development has occurred in the FETÖ investigation launched into the Antalya-based Maydonoz Döner restaurant chain. The restaurant chain has 300 branches across Turkey and continued to expand with branches opened abroad.

Founded in 2018 and having engaged in commercial transactions with many businesses for 7 years, Maydonoz Döner provided employment to a large number of people in recent years. However, the examinations revealed that the restaurant chain's employees and commercial relationships needed to be examined in detail.

MASAK UNCOVERED IT

The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) played a significant role in the investigation process, which was initiated a year and a half ago. MASAK conducted a comprehensive study to reveal the financial structure of the chain and examined the bank transactions and other financial movements of its branches. With the data obtained, the legal and illegal partnership structures and commercial relationships in all branches of Maydonoz Döner were investigated in depth.

MASAK PREPARED 300 REPORTS

MASAK submitted approximately 300 analysis reports it prepared regarding the 300 branches to the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in January.

These reports contain comprehensive information about the partnership structures of the branches, their commercial relationships, and the backgrounds of the employees. The financial and legal status of the 21 separate companies owned by Maydonoz Döner was examined. In addition, detailed reports were created regarding the organizational structure of the company, and the general operation of the chain was evaluated.

EXAMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AND RELATIVES

MASAK examined thousands of employees reflected in the Social Security Institution (SGK) records of the restaurant chain over the years. These analyses covered not only official employees but also unofficial partners and the close relatives of these individuals. During the study, it was determined that most of these individuals had criminal records. It was revealed that among these people were those with records for crimes such as membership in an armed terrorist organization.

Another prominent finding was that most of these individuals were persons who had been dismissed from public service and were specifically in the secret/covert tier of FETÖ. It was reported that these individuals were connected to Maydonoz Döner and that their suspicious relationships would continue to be investigated.

This comprehensive investigation by MASAK brought to light not only the financial structure of the restaurant chain but also the backgrounds of its employees and its commercial relationships. It is stated that legal action may be taken against more individuals in the later stages of the investigation.

WHO IS THE OWNER OF MAYDONOZ DÖNER?

Maydonoz Döner was founded in 2018 by Ömer Şeyhin. This döner brand, which belongs to the Somca Gıda company, grew through franchises. MASAK determined that these franchises were given to former FETÖ members and that the company operated like a closed loop.

Ömer Şeyhin works as a Founding Partner and branch owner at Maydonoz Döner. The partners of the company are Cuma Dağlı, Engin Kayıkçı, Ömer Faruk Ekim, Yücel Bahri Öntemel, and Mehmet Kaşlı.

WHEN DID THE MAYDONOZ DÖNER INVESTIGATION START?

The investigation had been conducted by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for 1.5 years.

In January, the company structure was completely uncovered, and on February 21, nearly 353 people, including the company owners, were detained. It is understood that the most comprehensive operation of recent times was launched after the detailed work of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), MASAK, and the Police.

HOW DID THE DÖNER CHAIN OPERATE?

With the support of the General Directorate of Security, MASAK, and the MİT Presidency, the Antalya-based chain had been under surveillance for some time.

It was revealed that the suspects expanded the döner chain through a franchise method, grew by incorporating people who were banned due to FETÖ, and provided unofficial partnerships to people who continued to have ties to the organization.

The company executives, who were understood to have transferred money to the organization through companies established in 7 countries, were monitored in detail. It was revealed that their accountants, who had FETÖ connections, managed the financial affairs and that there was a money transfer volume of 220 million among the organization members.

THEY ESTABLISHED A CLOSED LOOP

The company, which called its system "Reference-Based Growth," grew without official documentation, entirely through organization members referring one another. The branches were used to provide employment and money to people affiliated with the organization.

With technical and physical surveillance lasting 1.5 years, it was determined that the organization received money from the branches under the name of "himmet" (charitable donations), which is FETÖ's method of collecting money, created unofficial partners, and that share sales were also made through people connected to the organization.

HOW WAS THE FETÖ CONNECTION UNDERSTOOD?

It was determined that 197 of the detained suspects had previous judicial records within the scope of FETÖ, that the suspects who had undergone judicial proceedings did not benefit from effective remorse provisions, and that 83 of these individuals were among those dismissed from public service.

It was understood that 102 of the suspects were users of ByLock, the organization's secret communication program.