Nine of the 11 suspects detained as part of the investigation against PAYCO Electronic Money and Payment Services Inc. accused of “laundering criminal assets” was arrested.
The investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office, Department for the Prevention of Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering, against PAYCO Elektronik Para ve Odeme Hizmetleri AŞ and company officials for “violation of Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions” as well as “laundering of criminal assets” continues.
Procedures at the police station for 11 detained suspects under the scope of investigation have been completed.
The suspects were transferred to Istanbul Court in Çağlayan after medical examination.
While the nine suspects brought to the criminal justice of the peace after procedures at the prosecutor's office were arrested, it was decided to apply judicial control measures for two suspects.
STATEMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
In a statement by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on December 5, it said that within the scope of the investigation, the audit report prepared by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and the analytical report of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) were considered together.
In the statement, “The assessment of both organizations shows that the proceeds from illegal betting and illegal foreign exchange/fraud activities are systematically introduced into the financial system by intermediating money transfers through organizations providing e-money and payment services, and then laundered through multiple domestic and foreign companies. The findings show that these actions are not individual activities but are carried out by an organized structure, considering transaction volume, multi-agent structure, continuity and financial institution model.” expression was used.
When the evidence is evaluated together, the statement indicates that a hierarchical criminal organization structure was created within the cryptocurrency organization, consisting of 1 ringleader, 3 managers, and 7 organization members deemed to be operating at an operational level under the instructions of these managers, and emphasizes that many high-risk and criminally related financial transactions were discovered.
In the statement, it was reported that 11 suspects were arrested in the simultaneous operation carried out in Istanbul, Ankara, Kocaeli and Yalova by the Directorate of the Anti-Cybercrime Branch of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command.
In the statement, it was stated that assets belonging to the suspects and PAYCO Electronic Money and Payment Services Inc., which were considered to have been acquired after the date of the incident, were confiscated in accordance with the decision of the Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace and that the investigation continues to be meticulously conducted to protect financial security and prevent criminal infiltration into the economic system.
THE COMPANY'S TRADING VOLUME IS 123 BILLION 534 MILLION LIRA
On the other hand, in the statement of the Gendarmerie Command it was noted that the company reached a total transaction volume of 123 billion 534 million 946 thousand 832 liras during the investigation.
In the statement, it was stated that all bank accounts and crypto asset accounts belonging to the suspect and the company were confiscated to prevent the laundering of criminal proceeds, and it was reported that measures were taken to confiscate various movable and real estate assets, including 2 luxury cars, 4 motorbikes, 3 houses and 3 lands.
