Alper Çelik detained in Ahbap Derneği investigation
Alper Çelik, a founder of the Ahbap Derneği charity, was arrested while conducting a notary transaction in Istanbul and subsequently ordered to prison by a night‑time judge. The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, includes a MASAK report that recorded 379 cash‑deposit transactions totalling 19 million 566 thousand Turkish lira and 966 cash‑withdrawal transactions totalling 4 million 881 thousand lira between 2020 and 2024. The report notes that many transfers were labelled with terms such as “Ahbap borç”, “Haluk için borç” and were sent to accounts used for gambling and stock‑market activities.
In his statement, Çelik said he acted on instructions from singer‑activist Haluk Levent, recounting phone orders to place bets on football matches such as “Stuttgart handikap yenecek 100”. Screenshots of WhatsApp messages allegedly showing these betting tips have been submitted as evidence. Authorities have also detained other individuals linked to the case, including lawyer Ece Güner’s brother Özgür Güner, amid accusations of money‑laundering, organized‑crime membership and qualified fraud.
The probe continues, with further suspects expected to be summoned for testimony.