Breaking News: 5th wave of operations against Ahbap Association!

The 5th wave of operations against the Ahbap Association has been carried out.

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced the details regarding the operation.

Gürlek stated that an operation was conducted to apprehend 53 suspects as part of an investigation into the use of donations collected following the February 6 earthquakes.

4.3 BILLION LIRA IN DONATIONS EXAMINED

According to Gürlek's statement, 4.3 billion liras in donations were collected for earthquake victims between February 6 and December 31, 2023. It was determined that 4.2 billion liras of this money was spent, while 950 million liras were withdrawn in cash. It was reported that one of the cash withdrawals amounted to 500 million liras in a single transaction.

Furthermore, the investigation identified that a total of 1 billion 757 million 547 thousand 770 liras were transferred to 29 companies and 7 sole proprietorships.

It was noted that examinations revealed some high-value expenditures had no corresponding purchase of goods or services, that personal gain was derived from the transportation of aid, and that some aid materials were delivered to public institutions in smaller quantities than stated on the invoices.

Making a statement on his own X account, Gürlek noted the following:

"We do not tolerate any attempt to turn the great pain our nation experienced during the February 6 earthquakes, the solidarity of our citizens, and the donations made for our earthquake victims into personal gain.

Under the coordination of our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a 5th wave of operations was launched this morning by our Istanbul Provincial Police Department as part of the investigation into the fate of earthquake donations collected through the Ahbap Association.

The operation was carried out based on evidence obtained from Ministry of Interior inspector reports, special audit reports, the association's financial records and inventory, bank transactions, expert examinations, and the statements of suspects who benefited from effective remorse provisions.

It was determined that 4.3 billion TL in donations were collected to be delivered to our earthquake victims between February 6 and December 31, 2023, that 4.2 billion TL of this was spent; and that 950 million TL was withdrawn in cash, with one of these withdrawals being 500 million TL in a single transaction.

It was understood that 4.3 billion TL in donations were collected to be delivered to our earthquake victims between February 6 and December 31, 2023, that 950 million TL was withdrawn in cash, with 500 million TL withdrawals in a single transaction, and that a total of 4.2 billion TL had left the treasury.

It was determined that a total of 1 billion 757 million 547 thousand 770 TL was transferred to 29 companies and 7 sole proprietorships; that some high-value expenditures had no corresponding purchase of goods or services, that personal gain was derived from the transportation of aid, and that some aid was delivered to public institutions in smaller quantities than stated on the invoices.

In line with all findings, a simultaneous operation was organized in 20 provinces centered in Istanbul to apprehend 53 suspects. Investigations have been initiated to determine the actual commercial activities of the companies to which money was transferred.

In warehouses in İzmit, it was determined that hundreds of tents, wheelchairs, electric bicycles, stationery products, and various aid materials procured for earthquake victims were being kept unused. Necessary procedures have been initiated to deliver these materials to their rightful recipients.

I would like to thank our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which is conducting the investigation with great sensitivity, our Istanbul Provincial Police Department, which successfully executed the operations, and all our public officials who took part in the process.

Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we will continue to resolutely use all the means of the rule of law against the exploitation of our citizens' good intentions, benevolence, and our nation's spirit of solidarity."

News Source: 12punto