Within the scope of the investigation against Can Holding, suspicious money transfers worth 88 billion TL were discovered in the accounts of the parent company and 121 related companies. In the operation carried out in four provinces, 26 people, including businessman Arafat Bingöl, former rector of Bilgi University Remzi Sanver and Betül Can, were arrested.
The investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office against Can Holding officials on the charges of “establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime,” “directing the organization,” “being a member of an established organization,” “laundering criminally obtained assets” and “qualified fraud” continues. As part of the investigation, a second operation was carried out on charges of “tax evasion”, “fuel smuggling” and “money laundering”. Arrest warrants have been issued for a total of 35 suspects. 88 BILLION TL MOBILES IN MASAK REPORT In the MASAK report, suspicious money movements worth 88 billion TL were discovered in the accounts of the parent company and 121 related companies. In the operation carried out in four provinces centered on Istanbul, 26 people, including businessman Arafat Bingöl, former rector of Bilgi University Remzi Sanver and Betül Can, were arrested. It was determined that 3 people were abroad. Efforts to arrest six people continue. Assets of 121 companies were also confiscated. In the statement of the Director of Public Prosecutions, there are the following statements: “Within the scope of the wide-ranging investigation carried out by our Director of Public Prosecutions within the scope of the crimes Establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime, Being a member of an established organization, Qualified fraud, Objection to the Law on Tax Procedures, Fuel Smuggling and Laundering the value of assets of criminal origin; Ministry of Commerce General Department of Customs Control of Private Fuels “In the The investigation is carried out Currently, according to the report dated February 17, 2022 and No. 2022/4 prepared by Teams Branch, it was discovered that many companies operating in the fields of energy, technology and consumer durables within Can Holding have obtained unfair profits through tax evasion by issuing fake invoices.” “From the data obtained, it is understood that transactions of large quantities without physical movement of goods are carried out through Enerji Petrol Ürünleri A.Ş. and its sub-dealers, were under the control of the holding company, and these transactions were intended to evade taxes and obtain unfair profits through chains of unregistered invoices rather than actual fuel smuggling.” Criminal Investigation Report' dated 05.22.2025 prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) within the scope of the investigation, determined that there was a total financial activity worth 88 billion TL in the bank accounts of Can Holding and 121 related companies from 2020 to 2021. In this context, Zaman Han Can, Mehmet Şakir Can, Kemal Can, Cemal Can, Murat Can, Devran Can, Rumert Onur Can, Mehmet Kaya, “The assets of 16 suspects and 121 companies, including Betül Can, Zafer Özen, Mehmet Sıddık Kaya, Kemal Çimen, Sevda Çimen and Zühal Can, were confiscated by the decision of the Criminal Court of Peace dated September 10, 2025 and numbered 2025/7175 D.İş.” “Within the scope of the ongoing investigation, the second phase operation against (35) suspects, who are considered to have an active role in the organizational structure, in accordance with the MASAK report newly added to the investigation documents and the evidence obtained, was carried out simultaneously in the provinces of Mersin, Iğdır and İzmir, concentrated in Istanbul, under the coordination of our Chief Prosecutor's Office.” “During the operation carried out under the instructions of the Directorate of the KOM Branch of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command, a total of 26 suspects, including Chairman of the Board of Directors of Binsat Arafat Bingöl and Cengiz Bingöl, former Remzi Sanver of Bilgi University, Mehmet Kenan Tekdağ, Betül Can and Zühal Can, wife of Şakir Can and Murat Can, a of the owners of Can Holding, were arrested and searched at the company's headquarters and residential address. “A large number of valuable digital documents, documents and materials were seized.” “We have established that (3) suspects are abroad and efforts to arrest (6) are continuing. The analysis of evidence obtained within the scope of investigation and investigation to determine the financial connections and money transfers of the organizational structure is carried out continuously and within the legal framework, with the determination of our Chief Prosecutor's Office and in cooperation with relevant organizations.” INVESTIGATION HISTORY Kemal Can, who was said to be the founder and manager of the organization in the investigation against Can Holding, was arrested for establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes and concealing the origin of assets. Within the scope of the investigation, an arrest warrant was also issued for Turgay Ciner, owner of Ciner Holding, from which Can Holding acquired media organizations such as Show TV and Habertürk. Turgay Ciner is accused of laundering assets in sales and transfer transactions within the scope of the organization's activities. During the investigation, trustees were appointed by SDIF to Turgay Ciner's Park Holding and its affiliated companies AFC, Zeyfa and Silopi Elektrik.
An operation was carried out against the companies by the Financial Crimes Division teams of the Istanbul Police Department. Ten company directors were detained in the raids. During the Can Holding investigation, detention orders were previously issued for 10 people and 5 of the 6 detained suspects were arrested. Kenan Tekdağ, head of the media group, was released under house arrest conditions.
