House arrest for Can Media Group Chairman Kenan Tekdağ

As part of the investigation conducted by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into Can Holding, suspects Devran Çimen, Devran Can, Mehmet Kaya, and Kemal Çimen were referred to the duty Magistrate Judge with a request for arrest on charges of “membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes” and “money laundering.” Suspect Cemal Can was referred with a request for arrest on charges of “membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes,” while suspect Mehmet Kenan Tekdağ was referred with a request for house arrest and a travel ban on charges of “membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes” and “money laundering.”

5 SUSPECTS ARRESTED

The 5 suspects who were detained as part of the investigation and referred to the duty Magistrate Judge have been arrested. Can Holding Chairman Kenan Tekdağ was sentenced to house arrest.

Can Medya Grubu Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı Kenan Tekdağ'a ev hapsi cezası:
İlk açıklamayı yaptıhttps://t.co/FRDLcVDvWt pic.twitter.com/IbRUqTbQRd

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) September 15, 2025

INVESTIGATION DETAILS

Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was alleged that an organization was established to commit crimes through companies operating under Can Holding, and that through this organization, multifaceted actions were carried out regarding "qualified fraud," "tax evasion," "introducing funds of unknown origin into company accounts," and "laundering of proceeds from crime."

The investigation was initiated following reports from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and audit reports prepared by financial inspection units.

It was alleged that, as part of the investigation, large amounts of money of unknown origin were introduced through companies operating under Can Holding, that attempts were made to hide the trail of these funds by transferring them between various companies, and that tax liabilities were reduced through unbilled transactions and the issuance of fake documents.

It was claimed that the criminal organization established under the holding structure acted under the leadership of Kemal Can and Mehmet Şakir Can, making it difficult for oversight and tracking mechanisms to function by establishing numerous companies in the same fields of activity, changing boards of directors, and distributing responsibility among organization members, thereby aiming to evade legal sanctions.

Furthermore, it was alleged that cash capital increases were made in companies with no commercial activity, that debts to partners were shown as the source of these capital increases, that these debts did not reflect reality, and that the amounts seen in the debts to partners account were re-invested in the company under the "Asset Peace Law No. 7256." It was claimed that these transactions constituted the inclusion and laundering of proceeds from crime into the system in a manner contrary to the purpose of the law.

In line with the findings obtained through MASAK reports, it was alleged that the criminal organization expanded its commercial volume through illegal income obtained from predicate offenses such as "qualified fraud," "smuggling," and "opposition to the Tax Procedure Law," and that company acquisitions, share transfers, and investment activities in strategic sectors such as education, media, finance, and energy were directly financed with criminal proceeds, with the organization aiming to both increase its economic power and gain legitimacy in the eyes of the public.

In the operation carried out, assets of 121 companies were seized, a trustee was appointed by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), and detention warrants were issued for 10 suspects.

Teams from the Istanbul Gendarmerie Command detained 5 suspects in the operation, including Can Publishing Holding Chairman Kenan Tekdağ.

Some of the companies for which trustees were appointed were reported as follows:

"Habertürk Gazetecilik, Ciner Medya TV Hizmetleri, Show Televizyon Yayıncılık, Boğaziçi Radyo Televizyon Yayıncılığı ve Reklamcılık, Enerji Petrol Ürünleri Pazarlama, Doğa Okulları İşletmeciliği, Bilgi Doğa Eğitim İşletmeciliği, Turktobacco Sigara İç ve Dış Ticaret Pazarlama, HT Spor Televizyon Yayıncılık, and Bosphorus Medya Grubu Radyo ve Televizyon Yayıncılığı Anonim Şirketi."

WHO IS KENAN TEKDAĞ?

Mehmet Kenan Tekdağ was born in 1956 in the Doğubeyazıt district of Ağrı. Tekdağ, 68, is married and a father of three. After receiving a legal education, he took on various roles in the media sector.

Tekdağ graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law in 1979. Following his graduation, he served as a Public Prosecutor. He began practicing as a freelance lawyer in 1984. He utilized his experience in the field of law in the media sector.

Tekdağ later began working within the Ciner Group. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Ciner Publishing Holding. He also held the position of Chief Legal Counsel for the Ciner Group.

Following Turgay Ciner's decision to withdraw from the media sector, Tekdağ took on the task of managing the Can Group's media investments.

Details regarding the family life of Tekdağ, who is a father of three, have not been reflected in the public domain. Clear data regarding his personal wealth is unknown.

On September 11, the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention warrants for 10 people, including Can Holding owners Mehmet Şakir Can, Kemal Can, and Kenan Tekdağ. Those detained as part of the investigation are facing charges of "establishing a criminal organization," "smuggling," "fraud," and "money laundering."