Erdoğan's 'pen pal' detained in illegal betting operation

An operation based on MASAK reports was carried out as part of an illegal betting investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

According to a report by Sabah Newspaper, 3 people are accused of generating illicit gains through illegal betting games. Among these suspects is Burak Soylu, known as the former 'pen pal' of AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

SUSPECTS' BANK ACCOUNTS SEIZED

The operation was carried out based on a MASAK report. The suspects used the bank accounts of companies where they were board members to carry out large-scale transfers of funds with unknown sources, and cash was withdrawn from third-party accounts to be included in the betting system. As a result of these connections, 3 billion TL in the bank accounts of Burak Soylu, Cihan Şanlı, and Yavuz Başsav was seized.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ERDOĞAN'S 'PEN PAL'

Burak Soylu is known for his correspondence with President Erdoğan in 1999 while Erdoğan was in Pınarhisar Prison. Soylu, who was 11 years old at the time, wrote in his letter to Erdoğan: "Uncle Tayyip, I am Burak Soylu, a 5th-grade student. The injustice you are facing saddens me deeply. My brother and I will study law one day and help you." Erdoğan's response to this letter was as follows: "My dear brother, I thank you for the sentiments in your letter. I send my heartfelt regards from Pınarhisar Prison, where we are preparing to continue our service from where we left off, with greetings and prayers..."

THEY GENERATED ILLICIT GAINS ACCORDING TO THE MASAK REPORT

As part of the investigation, Burak Soylu, as the owner of companies such as HAR Group A.Ş. and Bilet Dükkânı Turizm A.Ş., is facing charges of organizing illegal betting and obtaining illicit gains. As a result of the operation, Soylu and the other two suspects were detained and legal proceedings were initiated against them.