11 arrested in Papara illegal betting investigation

A total of 15 suspects, including the owner Ahmed Faruk Karslı, who were detained in the "Illegal Betting" operation targeting Papara, were referred to the duty Magistrate Judge with a request for arrest. While an arrest warrant was issued for 11 suspects, 4 suspects were released with a travel ban and a requirement to report to authorities.

The investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues into allegations that Papara Elektronik Para AŞ facilitated illegal betting money traffic and that illegal betting organizations carried out money transfers through Papara, on charges of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "being a member of an established organization," "laundering assets derived from crime," and "violating the Law on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions."

The interrogation of the 15 suspects detained within the scope of the investigation, conducted by 4 prosecutors at the Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, has been completed.

The prosecution referred all of the suspects to the magistrate judge with a request for their arrest.

11 PEOPLE ARRESTED

Of the 15 suspects detained in the illegal betting operation conducted by the Istanbul police and referred to the courthouse, 11 were arrested and sent to prison. 4 suspects were released with judicial control measures consisting of a 'travel ban' and 'signing in'.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In a statement regarding the investigation, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that Papara Elektronik Para AŞ owner Ahmed Faruk Karslı had received an operating license as an electronic money institution since 2016, that the accounts within the company could collect fees at every transfer stage related to crypto exchanges and illegal betting, and that the fact that the examination of these accounts was conducted later did not disrupt betting transactions and allowed the company to earn revenue from said transactions.

The statement noted that, according to reports received from the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, MASAK, and other institutions, Papara was used systematically and extensively in the commission of the crime of illegal betting, and that the company facilitated the commission of this crime and the money transfers involved.

The statement further noted that analysis revealed 102 of the 26,012 accounts opened through Papara systems were used on different illegal betting and gambling sites, that the illegal financial volume obtained from these accounts was high, that said amount was transferred to 274 different bank accounts through the platform, and that subsequently, the proceeds of crime were directed to 16 different crypto wallet addresses in an attempt to launder them.

The statement included the following: "It has been understood that the owners of the 5 identified crypto wallet accounts were in cooperation with illegal betting organization leaders, and in this direction, the payment institution named Papara was in a process of a tacit agreement with illegal betting organizations."

The statement also reported that Papara Elektronik Para AŞ had become a significant intermediary for the financing of illegal betting and gambling crimes, that the institution's activities carried the risk of threatening the security of payments, that asset seizure measures were applied to 8 companies, primarily PPR Holding AŞ, belonging to the organization's ringleader and members, as well as a yacht, 5 boats, 3 safe deposit boxes, 74 vehicles, 7 apartments, and villas, and that the TMSF (Savings Deposit Insurance Fund) had been appointed as trustee to the companies by the magistrate judge.

News Source: 12punto