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As the fund embezzlement scandal reaches into the ruling party, the AKP is trying to conceal the facts. Although AKP President Erdoğan claims they have “got the situation under control” in the fund embezzlement investigation, the government—which is trying to conceal the events from the public—has targeted journalists who report the truth. Whilst journalists are being detained one after another for their reports and commentary on the case, those implicated in the scandal include AKP member Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, Osman Arıkan Nacar—allegedly a close friend of AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik—Mustafa Yazıcı, the son of AKP Deputy Chairman Hayati Yazıcı, Fatih Kılınç, the chief of staff to Vice-President Cevdet Yılmaz, and Üsame Erdoğan, Erdoğan’s nephew, have not faced any legal action. Whilst all this was unfolding, two journalists were arrested, and two others were placed under house arrest.

The latest example of the government’s moves against the press, in an attempt to make people forget the fund scandal, was the detention of journalist Bahadır Özgür and journalist Murat Ağırel, who is currently subject to a house arrest order. Although Özgür was released on bail later that day, the succession of legal proceedings has sparked criticism that journalists reporting on financial dealings and allegations of public interest are facing judicial pressure.

“THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL”

President Erdoğan, a member of the AKP, commented on the fund investigation during a speech at the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM). Erdoğan stated: “With the decisive steps we have taken since 17 September, we have brought the situation under control. We have swiftly established our Fund Coordination Board, which has full authority.”

‘We are conducting this operation with the precision of a surgeon,’ said Erdoğan, adding, ‘We have three priorities here. Firstly, the repayment of accumulated funds in those funds designated for liquidation to investors as soon as possible. Payments in ordinary liquidations began last week and are proceeding without a hitch. In the case of extraordinary liquidations, interim payments will commence following the enactment of the draft legislation we have submitted to the Grand National Assembly,” he said.

Erdoğan continued: “Our second priority is to hold those who have obtained unjust gains through manipulation to account before the law; this is being carried out with due regard to the relevant judicial processes. Investigations are being deepened in the light of new information and confessions.”

JUDICIAL SUPERVISION FOR ÖZGÜR

Journalist Bahadır Özgür, who was detained the day before on allegations of “breaching the confidentiality of the investigation”, was released yesterday subject to judicial supervision in the form of a travel ban and a requirement to sign in regularly. Özgür, who had come to the fore with his reports on the fund scandal, was interpreted as a warning to the press.

In his statement to the police the day before, Özgür noted that he had been a journalist for 30 years and stated that he had not included any documents or records subject to a confidentiality order in his report. Özgür stated that he had prepared his report in line with the statements made by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, saying: “The scope of the report falls within the list of the 141 highest earners announced by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek.

Minister Gürlek himself confirmed the existence of such a list on television. I prepared the report in line with the Minister’s statement, not based on the list’s contents.”

Özgür’s lawyer, Mürsel Ünder, stated that the technical conditions for the investigation had not been met, adding: “The investigation that has been launched is not in accordance with the law.”

Meanwhile, an access ban has also been imposed on İfade Özgür’s X account. It was noted that, following the decision, the account has not yet been made invisible to users in Turkey by X.

PUNISHMENT SYSTEM

Yesterday morning, Murat Ağırel, who was under house arrest as part of the fund investigation, was taken into custody. Ağırel, politician Aylin Kotil, and her son Ömer Sarıgül were taken into custody early this morning. Whilst a detention order was also issued for Emir Sarıgül, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that the allegations against Mustafa Sarıgül would be forwarded to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The prosecution also stated that the investigation had been launched following a complaint by two German citizens. Journalist Timur Soykan, meanwhile, stated that he had been investigating Ağırel’s allegations regarding the Sarıgül family, had spoken to the family’s lawyer, but had put the story on hold as he did not consider the documents in his possession to be sufficient.

In a message sent whilst in custody, Ağırel said, “This is the first time I’ve been taken into custody over a story I didn’t write.”

2 JOURNALISTS ARRESTED!

As part of the funding investigation being conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, journalists Murat Ağırel, İsmail Saymaz, and Şaban Sevinç had been summoned to give evidence as suspects due to allegations they had raised in their publications and social media posts. Whilst the prosecution claimed the journalists’ statements were “misleading to the public”, Sevinç and Balcı were remanded in custody. As for Murat Ağırel and İsmail Saymaz, judicial control measures were initially imposed, followed by a decision to place them under house arrest.

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RTÜK IMPOSES FINES ON TWO CHANNELS!

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has imposed fines on SZC TV and Koza TV for their broadcasts concerning the fund embezzlement. SZC TV was fined for comments made by Ismail Saymaz and Murat Ağırel regarding Trade Minister Ömer Bolat during the ‘Gazeteciler Masası’ (Journalists’ Table) programme, which covered the fund embezzlement investigation, and during the ‘Bir Saat’ (One Hour) programme, the phrase “intricate relationships” used whilst scrutinising footage of Osman Nacar – who is alleged to have fled abroad with ₺ 20 billion – at a concert in Bodrum alongside politicians and bureaucrats, were deemed to have breached the principles of impartiality and the rule that “news may not be broadcast without being verified”. Consequently, a fine of 3 % of the upper limit was imposed.

As for Koza TV, in the programme “Gün İzi”, Evren Özalkuş’s remarks regarding a funding investigation – “It never ends; what names, what names we haven’t even heard of yet. Who knows who else might be among them…” and, on the programme “Günün Sonunda”, journalist Fırat Fıstık’s statement “…among all the names in the government…” were deemed to have breached the principles of impartiality and “news must not be broadcast without being certain of its accuracy”, resulting in a 3 % administrative fine at the upper limit.

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ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED FOR 7 PEOPLE AT HALK TV

Of those detained as part of the operation targeting Halk TV, the police procedures for 12 have been completed. Seven people were referred to the magistrates’ court with a request for arrest, whilst the other five were sent to the court with a request for judicial supervision. As part of the operation, a trustee was appointed to the channel, whilst detention orders were issued for 17 people; it was noted that four were abroad and one was in prison. In a statement by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the investigation into Halk TV owner Cafer Mahiroğlu, it was alleged that Mahiroğlu had facilitated the establishment of BUSTECH through his connections with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and had received ₺ 14.4 million in unregistered bribes.

Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Fon vurgununda gazeteciler hedefte, published in BirGün newspaper on October 17, 2026.