Haluk Levent detained in AHBAP investigation: Prosecutor's office issues statement on earthquake donations

As part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the AHBAP Association, an arrest warrant was issued for the association's founder and president, Haluk Levent. It was reported that Levent was detained in Bursa by Financial Crimes Bureau teams.

In its statement, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office indicated that the investigation was launched following allegations that "large amounts of money were transferred to the accounts of certain suspects on behalf of the AHBAP Association." The statement noted that the investigation was deepened following increasing allegations that earthquake donations were being moved abroad and used for purposes other than those intended.

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ON MONEY FLOW AND BETTING ALLEGATIONS

According to the prosecutor's office, it is alleged that Haluk Levent used the accounts of numerous suspects during the investigation, and that one of these accounts belonged to his assistant, Yeliz Kaya. The statement noted that approximately 120 million TL in funds were detected flowing from the AHBAP Association to accounts that were allegedly personal accounts of Kaya but used by Levent.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office further alleged that between 2020 and 2026, 990 million TL in legal bets were placed through accounts that were allegedly used by Levent and belonged to one of the association's founders, Alper Çelik, with approximately 390 million TL lost.

The statement mentioned that although a travel ban had previously been imposed on Levent, the operation and detention process were initiated due to allegations that he was preparing to flee abroad.

The prosecutor's office announced that it is also investigating allegations that, as part of a separate probe, real estate was acquired from victims by using the association's name and promises of donations, and that these properties were registered first to Yeliz Kaya and subsequently to other suspects. The statement claimed that this resulted in approximately 60 million dollars in damages.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleged that there are serious indications that association accounts were emptied by transferring funds to negotiable instruments and personal accounts, and that some of the association's real estate was registered in the names of the suspects themselves.

The statement alleged that following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, donations from citizens wishing to provide aid were transferred by the suspects to personal accounts, used for betting, and sent to third parties. It was reported that proceedings regarding the suspects detained as part of the investigation are ongoing.

News Source: 12punto