First statement from Sezgin Baran Korkmaz

Detention warrants have been issued for 7 people, including Sezgin Baran Korkmaz and Cihan Ekşioğlu, as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into "establishing an organization," "usury," and "money laundering." While five people have been apprehended, Korkmaz made his first statement via social media.

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First statement from Sezgin Baran Korkmaz

As part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Bureau of Investigation for Smuggling, Narcotics, and Economic Crimes, detention warrants were issued for a total of 7 suspects, including Sezgin Baran Korkmaz and businessman Cihan Ekşioğlu.

The investigation was launched under charges of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," "usury," and "laundering assets derived from crime."

FIVE PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

Within the scope of the operation, Cihan Ekşioğlu, Şaban Kayıkçı, Şaban Şendil, Melike Yüksel, and Sinan Görkem Gökçe were taken into custody. Various digital materials and documents were seized during searches conducted at the suspects' addresses and in their vehicles.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM SEZGİN BARAN KORKMAZ

Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, for whom a detention warrant was issued as part of the investigation, stated on his social media account: "My dear friends, this is an investigation regarding a real estate purchase from six years ago. I will explain everything that happened before this investigation in detail to the public tomorrow. I advise you to wait patiently."

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced in a statement regarding the operation that the investigation was carried out against Ufuk Turizm İşletmeleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.

The statement noted that it was determined that the suspects took advantage of the complainant company's economic distress to burden it with debt, provided money in exchange for interest, and took over the usufruct rights of the property in Bodrum, Muğla, known as The Plaza Bodrum (formerly Paramount Hotel, Be Premium Hotel, Jumeirah Hotel), to continue operating it.

The prosecutor's office statement included the following:

"Within the framework of the investigation conducted under the crimes of establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, usury, and laundering assets derived from crime, suspects Cihan Ekşioğlu, Çağlar Şendil, Melike Yüksel, Sinan Görkem Gökçe, and Şaban Kayıkçı have been apprehended. The investigation is continuing meticulously, observing confidentiality."

It is alleged that the center of the investigation involves the revelations made by Sedat Peker on social media in 2021 regarding claims of an organized crime group.

In those statements, Peker had claimed that the Paramount Hotel was seized through illegal methods.

News Source: 12punto