Turkish actors testify in Ahbap charity investigation FAST-MOVING
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating Ahbap Derneği for alleged diversion of earthquake‑relief donations to suspects’ accounts. The probe has led to the detention of dozens of suspects – reports cite 35 and later 54 detainees, including Ahbap founder Haluk Levent – and the seizure of the charity’s assets with a court‑appointed trustee to manage them.
Actors Eda Ece, Kerem Bürsin and İrem Helvacıoğlu were summoned to give statements. All three denied any personal relationship with Haluk Levent and said they never donated to Ahbap. Bürsin confirmed he personally contributed 200,000 TL to the charity and said he shared both Ahbap’s and AFAD’s account details on social media during the February 2023 earthquake response, but did not attend any Ahbap events. Helvacıoğlu recalled meeting Levent during a 2021 forest‑fire relief effort but asserted no close ties and no monetary aid to Ahbap. Ece, who cried while testifying, apologized for remarks made at a 2023 award ceremony and reiterated that she and her crew organized their own aid deliveries without involving Ahbap. The investigation also alleges involvement of organized‑crime structures, money‑laundering and qualified fraud in the fundraising process.
Entities: Ahbap Association · Ahbap Derneği · Eda Ece · Haluk Levent · Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office · Kerem Bürsin · Nejdet Kuy · İrem Helvacıoğlu
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Actor Kerem Bürsin testified he personally donated 200,000 TL to Ahbap and has no personal relationship with Haluk Levent. (ae43c6d7-84f3-43b0-b79c-14a43e6a1a94)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating Ahbap charity for alleged diversion of disaster donations to suspects' accounts. (d25ceb8c-ac36-4f7e-a566-da0d7ab99bfc)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 35 suspects were arrested, Ahbap's assets were seized, and a trustee was appointed to manage them. (e17c4c84-fedd-4d32-aad6-3adc93af3e01)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kerem Bürsin said he shared Ahbap’s and AFAD’s official account details on social media during the earthquake response. (9847f930-8fce-4d5f-801c-115a82b2f12a)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Businessman Nejdet Kuy claims he loaned 70 million TL to Haluk Levent before ever meeting him. (b416efd1-5293-4b40-9228-be79cded3728)
- [● 17 SOURCES] The investigation alleges involvement of organized‑crime structures, money‑laundering and qualified fraud related to Ahbap’s fundraising. (allegation)
- [● 13 SOURCES] Actress Eda Ece testified that she does not know Haluk Levent and never donated to Ahbap. (testimony)
- [● 2 SOURCES] 54 suspects, including Ahbap founder Haluk Levent, were detained as part of the investigation. (detention)
- [● 2 SOURCES] İrem Helvacıoğlu testified she met Haluk Levent during a 2021 forest‑fire relief effort but had no close relationship and made no monetary donation to Ahbap. (testimony)
- [● 13 SOURCES] Eda Ece, Kerem Bürsin and İrem Helvacıoğlu expressed remorse and apologized for remarks made during a 2023 award ceremony. (apology)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Kerem Bürsin said he personally donated 200,000 TL to Ahbap. (donation)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The court appointed a trustee to manage Ahbap’s assets after they were seized. (court action)