New criminal complaint in Yunus Emre Foundation investigation: Allegations that 'audit was intentionally obstructed'

The investigation into alleged irregularities at the Yunus Emre Foundation, which was established in 2007 to promote the Turkish language and culture, has taken a new turn. In the case file opened by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding allegations that the foundation's coffers were emptied using fake invoices, two separate lawsuits had been filed against 23 individuals for 'breach of trust due to service' and 'laundering of assets derived from crime.'

Prison sentences of up to 14 years were requested for the suspects, including Enes Ateş, the son of the fugitive former foundation president Şeref Ateş. The file of Şeref Ateş, who was determined to have gone to Germany three days after being dismissed from his post, had been separated from the main investigation.

It had been determined that the damage caused by the irregular transactions revealed in the foundation's financial records amounted to 64 million lira so far.

ALLEGATION THAT “AUDIT DUTY WAS INTENTIONALLY NOT PERFORMED”

According to a report in the BirGün newspaper, a retired citizen who served as an inspector and chief inspector in public institutions for 38 years has filed a new criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

In the application, the retired chief inspector brought to the agenda the allegation that M.K.A., the then-Head of Guidance and Inspection at the General Directorate of Foundations, 'concealed the corruption at the Yunus Emre Foundation by intentionally failing to perform his audit duties.'

The petition alleged that M.K.A. abused his position, causing the damage to multiply and leading to the unjust enrichment of third parties.

“INSPECTION REPORT WAS CONSCIOUSLY BLOCKED”

In the criminal complaint dated June 26, 2025, it was stated that after allegations of irregularities regarding the Yunus Emre Foundation were reflected in the press at the beginning of 2023, inspectors N.E.D. and B.Z. within the Guidance and Inspection Department were given instructions to conduct an examination.

However, it was noted that after the examination in question was completed, the necessary report was not prepared, and instead, the findings were only summarized in a letter.

According to the application, the Head of Inspection M.K.A. pressured the inspectors and prevented the preparation of a report. During this process, the conversion of the findings into an official report was prevented, and the audit was left inconclusive.

“NO STEPS TAKEN FOR 14 MONTHS”

The criminal complaint also alleged that M.K.A. did not take any steps during the 14-month period from May 2023 to July 2024.

The retired chief inspector used the following expressions in his petition:

“Head of Inspection M.K.A. prevented the preparation of the inspection report and did not fulfill the requirements of the inspectors' letter. By remaining inactive from May 2023 to July 2024, he caused the public damage resulting from the corrupt transactions of foundation employees to multiply. He abused his position by failing to fulfill the requirements of his audit duty.”

PROCESS CONTINUES AT THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

It was learned that upon the retired chief inspector's criminal complaint, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has taken the allegations in the petition under evaluation by associating them with the existing Yunus Emre Foundation investigation file.