MIT operation against FETO's financial structure: Trustees appointed to 2 retail chains

The National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Investigation Branch conducted a simultaneous joint operation in 9 provinces, centered in Istanbul, regarding FETO's current financial structure.

During the operation, Z.D., the owner of the HAKMAR and TATBAK retail chains, which have approximately 800 branches centered in Istanbul and acted as financiers for the organization, as well as C.G., a dismissed police officer who acted as an organization courier distributing the organization's financial activities, and 24 individuals receiving financial aid (a total of 26 people) were detained in a dawn raid.

"I WAS PROMOTED BY GULEN"

"I rose thanks to Fethullah Gulen, even if my wealth goes, let it be sacrificed" said Z.D., the owner of the HAKMAR and TATBAK retail chains, in whose home materials linked to the organization were seized during a search. It was determined that Z.D. regularly transferred money to organization members in Turkey in line with instructions received from FETO's overseas structure. It was determined that the HAKMAR Group of Companies was used as the source. It was revealed that Z.D., against whom there were numerous reports, collected aid for FETO under the pretexts of "sacrificial donations, Hajj money, and subscriptions to the Zaman newspaper." Furthermore, it was determined that Z.D. specifically employed individuals within the HAKMAR retail chain who had records of FETO membership and continued to harbor sympathy for the organization.

26 PEOPLE DETAINED

The simultaneous operation was carried out in Istanbul, Ankara, Sakarya, Osmaniye, Bayburt, Giresun, Malatya, Yalova, and Bolu. 26 people with links to FETO were detained. It was determined that the HAKMAR headquarters building in Sancaktepe, Istanbul, contained numerous interlocking encrypted doors in accordance with organizational custom, that security was at a high level, and that organizational meetings were held in the aforementioned premises. It was determined that the FETO member Z.D. used the HAKMAR and TATBAK companies under his control for organizational money transfers.

It was also revealed that the dismissed police officer C.G., who had been under surveillance by security forces for a long time, worked illegally at HAKMAR and traveled from province to province distributing money to organization members under Z.D.'s instructions. It was determined that C.G. delivered cash aid to individuals who had been dismissed and were involved in FETO's clandestine structures, as well as to their close relatives.

TRUSTEES APPOINTED TO HAKMAR AND TATBAK

As a result of the operation coordinated by MIT, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Investigation Branch, many materials linked to FETO and showing its financial network were seized during searches conducted at 3 company headquarters within the HAKMAR Group of Companies.

Trustees have been appointed to HAKMAR and TATBAK, which were the subject of the operation in 9 provinces on the grounds that they provided financing to FETO.

News Source : İHA