A new stage has been reached in the fund investigation into transactions in the capital markets, conducted by the Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, the former minister of family and social policies, who was summoned for questioning again as a "suspect" in the investigation, was referred to the duty criminal judgeship of peace with a request for her arrest after prosecutors completed their procedures.
Prosecutors referred Sayan Kaya to the judgeship on charges of "membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing a crime" and "violation of the Capital Markets Law." Her questioning at the prosecutor's office lasted approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Judicial control measures consisting of a signature requirement and a ban on leaving the country were also sought for her husband, İlyas Kaya, and former Capital Markets Board (CMB) Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül. All three were referred to the judgeship for the requests to be evaluated.
CMB report cited in referral document
The referral document seeking Sayan Kaya's arrest said the CMB had prepared a report based on transaction data and findings concerning shares of Özata Denizcilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. The report included an assessment that the suspect possessed information that had not been disclosed to the public and that could affect the share price or investors' decisions. The document also stated that an examination of the ownership structure on the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) found that the Tera Group had made intensive purchases of OZATD shares at both the company and fund levels.
Under the referral document, proceeds from the sale of OZATD shares would normally have been credited to the account after the standard two-business-day settlement period. However, the shares belonging to Sayan Kaya were sold through a transfer between accounts, and the balance was credited on the same day. The transfer was made to Tera Yatırım Menkul Değerler A.Ş., and the company deposited the sale proceeds into the suspect's account on the same day. The sale took place on September 16, 2026, one day before the liquidation decision.
She denied the allegations in her earlier testimony
In their initial statements on October 7 as part of the investigation, the Kaya couple maintained that they had not received special information or guidance regarding the purchase and sale of Özata Denizcilik shares. Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya said she had bought approximately 250,000 lots of shares in April 2026, while İlyas Kaya had bought approximately 150,000 lots, and that their transactions complied with the regulations. The couple said they had transferred the amount viewed as profit to an account designated by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF). Sayan Kaya resigned as AK Party deputy chairwoman at the end of September after the share transactions became a subject of public debate.
Former CMB Chairman Gönül is also being investigated over allegations that he abused his office in connection with the rapid rise in the funds. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance granted permission for an investigation into the allegation, and Gönül, who was chairman of the Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority, was dismissed on October 19.
Investigation has 433 suspects
According to the latest statement by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek on the fund investigations, there are 433 suspects in the case. Of these suspects, 112 were arrested, while judicial control orders were issued for 186 people. Measures were imposed on the assets and bank accounts of 359 individuals and 111 legal entities, while money, real estate and shares worth approximately 30 billion liras were returned. Gürlek had emphasized that the structure under investigation was an extensive criminal organization. Most recently, former Borsa İstanbul General Manager Korkmaz Enes Ergun was arrested as part of the investigation.
A ruling is awaited from the criminal judgeship of peace on the request to arrest Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya and the requests for judicial control measures against İlyas Kaya and İbrahim Ömer Gönül.
Photos: Habertürk, CNN Türk
