Ahbap Derneği investigation draws more celebrity testimonies

Ahbap Derneği Haluk Levent organized‑crime investigation celebrity testimonies property‑sale scheme

Turkish prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation, titled “Ahbaplar Suç Örgütü”, into the Ahbap Derneği charity. The probe alleges organized‑crime, qualified fraud and money‑laundering offences. Authorities detained 54 suspects, of whom 28 were arrested, including the charity’s founder Haluk Levent and co‑operator Oğuzhan Uğur. Assets belonging to Ahbap and several suspects have been seized.

A fourth‑wave operation added 13 more detainees, bringing the total number of arrested suspects to 41. Businessman Hüseyin Başaran testified that he and Levent sold 22 properties worth about 2.298 billion TL between February and April 2026, all transferred to Yeliz Kaya, and that only 151.68 million TL was actually paid in four installments. Başaran described a “barter‑pool” system in which foreign aid funds would be channelled through the properties.

The investigation also uncovered high‑value money transfers, gambling‑account deposits and rapid chains of property‑title changes linked to the suspects. In addition, the prosecutor’s office summoned several well‑known actors and singers – Eda Ece, İrem Helvacıoğlu, Kerem Bursin, Berna Laçin and Farah Zeynep Abdullah – to give statements. Their 2023 social‑media posts about Ahbap have been examined for relevance. Rock‑musician Hayko Cepkin, who appeared at the courthouse, verbally attacked journalists, saying “Her şeyi köpürtün …” (roughly “stir up everything”).

Entities: Ahbap (charity) · Ahbap Derneği · Berna Laçin · Eda Ece · Haluk Levent · Hayko Cepkin · Hüseyin Başaran · Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office · Istanbul Court · Istanbul Court of Justice · Istanbul Courthouse · MASAK

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] Haluk Levent and Oğuzhan Uğur were detained; among 54 suspects, 28 were arrested, including them. (existing)
[● 2 SOURCES] Mahsun Kırmızıgül posted in 2023 encouraging donations to Ahbap’s accounts.
[● 2 SOURCES] Hayko Cepkin posted in 2023 questioning Ahbap’s aid accountability.
[● 5 SOURCES] Celebrities Mahsun Kırmızıgül, Gülben Ergen, Elçin Sangu and Hayko Cepkin have given statements to prosecutors.
[● 4 SOURCES] The investigation alleges organized crime, qualified fraud and money‑laundering. (prosecutor's filing)
[● 4 SOURCES] A MASAK report identified high‑value money transfers, gambling‑account deposits and chains of property title changes linked to the suspects. (existing)
[● 3 SOURCES] Actors Berna Laçin, Eda Ece, Farah Zeynep Abdullah, İrem Helvacıoğlu and Kerem Bürsin were summoned to appear before prosecutors.
[● 4 SOURCES] The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation titled “Ahbaplar Suç Örgütü” into Ahbap Derneği. (official investigation)
[● 8 SOURCES] The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office opened the investigation titled “Ahbaplar Suç Örgütü” targeting Ahbap Derneği. (Support)
[● 6 SOURCES] Businessman Hüseyin Başaran claimed he and Haluk Levent sold 22 properties worth 2.298 billion TL in early 2026. (existing)
[● 5 SOURCES] The celebrities' past 2023 social‑media posts praising Ahbap’s aid work have been examined as part of the investigation. (Support)
[● 5 SOURCES] Five celebrities – Berna Laçin, Eda Ece, Farah Zeynep Abdullah, İrem Helvacıoğlu and Kerem Bürsin – were summoned to give statements to prosecutors. (Support)