[REVISION HISTORY]

Ahbap probe escalates: trustee appointed, 54 suspects

Updated 23 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-25 13:20 UTC → 2026-08-29 07:05 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has significantly escalated its investigation into Ahbap Derneği, now labeling it a possible ‘Ahbaplar Crime Organization.’ The probe, handled by the Bureau for the Investigation of Crimes of Financing Terrorism and Money Laundering, has expanded to include 54 suspects, including founder Haluk Levent. Authorities have seized the charity’s assets and appointed a court-appointed trustee to manage them. Financial scrutiny by MASAK has intensified. While investigators are reviewing high-value transfers from celebrities ~~like Ajda Pekkan, Tarkan, and Sibel Can~~ to determine if funds were diverted to non-charitable activities, the donors themselves are not currently accused of wrongdoing. Conversely, businessman Nejdet Kuy claimed he previously loaned 70 million TL to Levent, and Engin Güner asserted that transfers from his daughter, Ece Güner, were personal loans rather than donations. New ~~criminal~~ allegations include a villa-fraud scheme in Pınarhisar involving ten properties and a claimed €400 million foreign fund. Prosecutors allege an attempt to artificially boost Ahbap’s turnover by transferring assets through Levent’s assistant, Yeliz Kaya. Additionally, businessman Hüseyin Başaran alleged that Levent suggest earthquake relief funds may have been used ~~his daughter’s name to exert pressure during property dealings.~~ for gambling and unauthorized transfers. Testimonies have ~~also emerged from public figures.~~ added personal and legal complexity to the case. Comedian Şahan Gökbakar testified that he has no relationship with ~~Ahbap and has always directed aid to~~ Ahbap, stating he prefers official state ~~institutions~~ channels like ~~AFAD. Meanwhile,~~ AFAD and citing a lack of trust in Levent due to past convictions. Furthermore, details regarding Levent’s private life have emerged. His wife, Nurdan Eriş—who is also detained as a suspect—has filed for divorce following a secret 2018 marriage in Switzerland. In her testimony, Eriş alleged that Levent exploited her financially, claiming he requested large sums by citing debts to moneylenders and threats from organized crime. She stated, “I feel like a fool right now,” after transferring significant funds from her companies in the United States and Switzerland to him. The investigation continues to examine allegations of organized crime, money laundering, and the misuse of earthquake relief donations.

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