Statements To The Prosecution Completed: Arrest Warrant Sought For Journalist Murat Ağırel

Seventeen people, including journalist Murat Ağırel, who were taken into custody as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into allegations of ‘laundering assets derived from crime’, were referred to the courthouse.

The police procedures for those taken into custody as part of the investigation have been completed.

Those in custody were taken to the courthouse following a medical examination.

The questioning of the 17 individuals at the prosecutor’s office began at around 12.20.

Journalist Murat Ağırel’s questioning at the prosecutor’s office began at 15.30 and ended at 16.30.

Following the questioning sessions conducted by five separate prosecutors, the public prosecutor’s office announced its referral decisions.

Fifteen individuals, including journalist Murat Ağırel, were referred to the duty magistrate’s court with a request for their arrest, whilst two others were referred subject to judicial supervision.

The other individuals, alongside Ağırel, for whom arrest warrants were sought are listed as follows:

Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner, Volkan Aslanbaş, Caner Baş, Cihan Durak, Cihat Salman, Özgür Bölükbaşı, Bayram Özata, Sadullah Ergün, Selim Daşdemir, Zekai Erdem, Zekeriya Yasemin, Mehmet Ali Aslan.

Judicial supervision was requested for Cemil Vasken Barın and Uğur Kurtulan.

A detention order had also been issued for Emir Sarıgül. As part of the investigation, Emir Sarıgül surrendered to the Financial Crimes Unit yesterday evening, accompanied by his lawyer.

In the investigation being conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was alleged that German nationals K.P. and M.B. carried out transactions aimed at laundering large sums of money of unknown origin through companies established both domestically and abroad.

It was alleged that a contract worth 80 million euros was drawn up, a bank transfer of 100 million euros was made, a fund worth 1 billion euros was promised to be transferred abroad via loans using public authority and influence, and a boat sale worth 1.5 million euros was carried out.

As part of the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for Emir Sarıgül, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner and Murat Ağırel.

Meanwhile, it was stated that the allegations concerning Mustafa Sarıgül, an MP for the YENİ Party, would be referred to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for separate assessment.

On Friday 16 October, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner and Murat Ağırel were taken into custody.

Subsequent operations led to the detention of Caner Baş, Cihan Durak, Zekai Erdem, Cihat Salman, Selim Daşdemir, Özgür Bölükbaşı, Bayram Özata, Cemil Vasken Barın, Zekeriya Yasemin, Mehmet Ali Aslan, Sadullah Ergün and Uğur Kurtulan.

Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Savcılık ifadeleri tamamlandı: Gazeteci Murat Ağırel hakkında tutuklama talebi, published in BirGün newspaper on October 19, 2026.