Gökalp İçer, who was also caught by MASAK, is now being tried for 7.5 years for defrauding Azerbaijani diplomats

Crypto asset service providers were designated as obligated entities under the Law No. 5549 on the Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime, effective May 1, 2021. In this context, MASAK published a guide on its website regarding crypto service providers, and the obligations these companies are subject to were determined as: customer due diligence, suspicious transaction reporting, providing information and documents, continuous information provision, and retention and submission.

Audits were conducted by MASAK within the scope of these provisions. Regarding the violations of obligations committed in 2021 by Bitci Teknoloji AŞ, Icrypex Bilişim AŞ, Paribu Teknoloji AŞ, and BTC Türk, it was decided in 2022 to impose administrative fines on these service providers. A total of 18 million 800 thousand Turkish Lira in administrative fines were imposed, consisting of 4 million 250 thousand lira for Bitci Teknoloji AŞ, 4 million 100 thousand lira for Icrypex Bilişim AŞ, 8 million lira for Paribu Teknoloji AŞ, and 2 million 450 thousand lira for BTC Türk.

Azerbaijani diplomats have become the latest victims of the frequently reported fraud involving fund promises. They lost the money they invested with the promise of "tripling" their returns. The diplomats were defrauded of approximately 350 thousand dollars. A lawsuit has been filed against the suspects seeking up to 7 and a half years in prison.

They were deceived for the sake of high profit promises... They handed over approximately 350 thousand dollars in installments with their own hands.

Gökalp İçer, who also owns well-known financial applications, began working with Murat Şirinov, whom he met at an international fair. Şirinov established contact with Azerbaijani diplomats through a bank manager in Azerbaijan. Allegedly, he introduced himself as a public official and gained their trust.

Murat Şirinov established contact with 3 diplomats holding high-level positions in Azerbaijan. He met with the diplomats at a cafeteria.

He received the money in cash but did not even provide a receipt in return. He took the diplomats, who wanted to see the real boss, to Gökalp İçer's office and introduced them.

THEY HAD A PHONE APPLICATION INSTALLED TO TRACK THE MONEY

According to the victims' allegations, they were made to install an application on their phones. They were told they could track their money through this platform. However, the control of the application was entirely in Şirinov's hands.

Small payments were made for the first few months. This ensured that they invested more money and included their relatives in the system. After large amounts of money were collected, they stopped paying profits. They did not even answer their phones. A short while later, the accounts in the application were zeroed out.

The investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office upon the complaint of the Azerbaijani diplomats has been completed.

IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT NO INVESTMENT WAS MADE WITH THE MONEY

In the indictment, it was understood that no investment was made with the money given to Şirinov.

It was reported that fake data was reflected in the application installed on their phones as if an investment had been made.

Furthermore, it was determined that the company and application in question did not have a work permit or license. A lawsuit was filed against Gökalp İçer and Murat Şirinov.

It was requested that the suspects be sentenced to 5 to 7 and a half years in prison for aggravated fraud and other crimes.

News Source: 12punto