Turkey orders arrest of 417 suspects in money laundering probe

417 suspects detained in money laundering investigation over transfer of some 2.5 billion lira to foreign accounts


Reuters October 02, 2018
417 arrested over transfers of 2.5 billion lira to foreign account. Lira notes are pictured here. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISTANBUL: Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention of 417 suspects in a money laundering investigation over the transfer of some 2.5 billion lira ($419 million) to bank accounts abroad, broadcaster CNN Turk said on Tuesday.

The vast majority of the recipients of the funds were Iranian citizens resident in the United States, it added, citing a statement from Istanbul's chief prosecutor.

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Istanbul police teams launched simultaneous raids across a series of provinces and detained many people, also carrying out searches of properties, the broadcaster said.

Police and judicial authorities were not immediately available to comment on the report, which was also carried by other Turkish media. The investigation was aimed at those who "targeted the
economic and financial security of the Turkish Republic", the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said, according to CNN Turk.

The suspects were accused of money laundering, "forming a
gang with the aim of committing crime," and "breaking a law
aimed at preventing the financing of terrorism," the statement
said. The operation was launched by financial crimes police, it
added.

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It said the suspects had received commission for sending the
money to 28,088 accounts abroad and that the accounts abroad
belonged to Iranians in the United States.

The transfers were made from various bank branches and ATMs starting from January 1, 2017 with sums of 5,000 lira and more, the
statement said.

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