What is the source of the money flow? Former MASAK Deputy Chairman explains the 'influencer file'

The couple Dilan Polat and Engin Polat, who frequently made headlines with their luxurious lifestyles, were arrested following an investigation into money laundering and tax evasion.

After the Polat couple, sisters Bahar and Nihal Candan, who became famous through a television program and later became influencers on social media, were also arrested and sent to prison on charges of laundering money for a criminal gang and being members of a criminal organization.

NEARLY 600 INFLUENCERS UNDER INVESTIGATION

While Turkey discusses the money laundering traffic conducted through influencers, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security has also begun examining the luxury posts of nearly 600 influencers.

As the public wonders whether the operations will continue, Former MASAK Deputy Chairman Dr. Ramazan Başak spoke about the influencer file currently on Turkey's agenda.

According to the report in Sözcü, Ramazan Başak shared his thoughts and predictions regarding the source of the money flow exceeding 500 million TL:

"THERE IS ALWAYS AN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY BEFORE EVERY LAUNDERING OPERATION"

"Although an indictment has not yet been prepared, the prosecutor's referral letter also cites Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports, which raises the suspicion that the source of the mentioned funds could be illegal betting. This matter is currently being investigated by MASAK."

"THE LARGER THE PROCEEDS OF CRIME IN A COUNTRY, THE MORE INTENSE THE LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES ARE"

"There is always an illegal activity before every laundering operation. This sometimes appears as drug trafficking, sometimes arms smuggling, sometimes prostitution, and sometimes illegal betting. Proceeds of crime, defined as money, goods, and assets obtained from these and similar illegal activities, have a direct relationship with laundering activities. The larger the proceeds of crime in a country, the more intense the laundering activities are. Therefore, weaknesses in the fight against proceeds of crime will lead to intense laundering activities, and money laundered through various methods will provide criminal networks with power and influence for further crimes. There are basically 3 allegations in the prosecutor's referral letter to the court for the arrest of the Polat family.

Proceeds of crime are introduced into the system in exchange for invoices and documents issued as if there were a real commercial transaction between shell companies and/or companies with insufficient financial strength, and are laundered by being shown as commercial profit. Later, the process continues by investing in real estate, automobiles, or other areas. This is what happened in the Polat case as well."

"A SYSTEM INVOLVING THOUSANDS OF PLAYERS..."

Başak explained the following regarding illegal betting:

"Criminal networks, which mostly reach segments in need of money such as the unemployed, retirees, and students, seize the usage rights of bank accounts opened by these individuals in exchange for a certain amount of money, and ensure that money is deposited into these accounts by directing young people to engage in illegal betting, especially with flashy promises and dreams of large earnings. In this system, which involves thousands of players, this money collected in sub-accounts is transferred to the accounts of network members within minutes or even seconds thanks to various software and algorithms, and when it reaches the top of the pyramid, the resulting large wealth is mostly converted into cryptocurrency and electronic money to be further distanced from its source or is attempted to be laundered through various methods. It is also very common for this money to be used in drug trafficking and the financing of terrorism."

News Source: 12punto