Armine founder Mehmet Dursun detained in criminal group probe

Mehmet Dursun, the founder of the prominent Turkish modest fashion brand Armine, has been detained as part of the fourth wave of an investigation into the Alihan Kuriş criminal organization. The operation, conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, involves 29 suspects.

The investigation targets the group, known publicly as the Süleymancılar, on charges including establishing and managing a criminal organization, money laundering, and defrauding public institutions. Authorities allege that the organization used affiliated companies to manage domestic and international financial transfers and launder unregistered income. In previous stages of the probe, cash was reportedly hidden within international aid shipments to move assets via logistics firms.

As part of the ongoing legal actions, trustees from the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) have been appointed to several companies. Armine had previously been placed under TMSF trusteeship during the initial phase of the investigation in August. This latest wave of operations has resulted in the appointment of trustees to an additional 23 companies linked to the organization.