Indictment in Dilan and Engin Polat case had been returned: Now the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has filed an objection

The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has filed an objection to the decision by the Anatolian 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, which had returned the indictment prepared as a result of the investigation into 16 suspects, including Dilan Polat, her husband Engin Polat, and their siblings Can and Sıla Doğu, by stating that the case should be heard in a High Criminal Court.

In the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's objection decision, it was emphasized that the competent court is determined based on the base penalty, and that the enhancement clause is not the basis for determining the court's jurisdiction.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

In operations conducted on November 1, 2023, and subsequently in 6 provinces centered in Istanbul, 24 suspects, including Dilan Polat and her husband Engin Polat, were detained.

A preliminary investigation report was prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) regarding the suspects, including the Polat couple, whose digital materials and ledgers were seized during searches of their companies. The report determined that 200 million lira had entered the accounts of companies belonging to family members from 3 companies in liquidation through the method of issuing fake invoices in exchange for alleged trade.

After it was determined that the money was transferred between companies also owned by family members and finally collected in a company named Milda Gayrimenkul, owned by Engin Polat, to purchase real estate and numerous vehicles, the Istanbul Financial Crimes Investigation Bureau teams identified the suspects and conducted simultaneous operations at 43 addresses in Istanbul, Ankara, Yalova, Ordu, Kırklareli, and Manisa.

Continuing their work within the scope of the investigation, the teams determined that a medical company owned by Dilan and Engin Polat had granted naming rights to another firm in Ankara, and that 1 million 800 thousand lira in that firm's account was being attempted to be transferred to the personal accounts of the partners.

16 of the suspects, including Dilan Polat, Engin Polat, and Sıla Doğu, were arrested. The court had ordered the appointment of trustees to 27 companies.

The Criminal Court of Peace, in its monthly detention review on June 14, ruled for the release of Dilan Polat's siblings Can and Sinem Sıla Doğu, as well as Can Polat, Gökay Bekar, Halit Polat, Harun Abak, Metin Yılmaz, Mustafa Özalp, Nilgün Yılmaz, Uğurcan Ayyıldız, and Zekai Tepe under judicial control provisions, while deciding to continue the detention of the other 5 suspects.

In the indictment prepared after the Public Prosecutor's Office completed the investigation, it was requested that the suspects be punished for the crimes of "laundering assets derived from crime," "illegal betting," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crime," and "being a member of an organization established for the purpose of committing crime."

The indictment also requested the confiscation and transfer to the public of all assets, including real estate, vehicles, and similar properties, belonging to the 31 companies included in the investigation.

The indictment, approved by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was sent to the Anatolian 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

Reviewing the indictment, the Anatolian 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance returned the file to the prosecutor's office, stating that considering the enhancement clauses requested for the penalties against the suspects, the court authorized to conduct the trial is the High Criminal Court.

News Source: 12punto