Turkish police on Monday detained 13 people in the fourth wave of an investigation into alleged financial misconduct at AHBAP, the prominent disaster-relief charity founded by rock musician Haluk Levent, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek has announced.
The investigation concerns allegations that donations collected after devastating earthquakes in February 2023 were diverted or misused.
Twenty-eight people, including Levent and YouTube personality Oğuzhan Uğur, have been jailed pending trial, while prosecutors have questioned journalists, actors and musicians about their public support for the charity.
Gürlek said prosecutors were examining housing and prefabricated-container purchases, suspicious real estate transfers, checks issued by the charity and financial and commercial relationships linked to Levent.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said Monday’s operation targeted officials of companies that received substantial payments from AHBAP for housing projects that allegedly were not completed, people involved in the purchase of temporary housing containers and individuals linked to a series of property transfers.
The investigation, which prosecutors officially refer to as the “Ahbaplar criminal organization” case, also covers the circulation and collection of checks issued by the charity and other transactions they have characterized as suspicious.
The case began over allegations that donations collected by AHBAP were transferred to suspects’ personal accounts, sent to third parties or used for gambling. Prosecutors are investigating suspected money laundering, fraud, membership in a criminal organization and violations of Turkey’s tax and associations laws.
AHBAP emerged as one of Turkey’s most visible nongovernmental relief groups following two earthquakes on February 6, 2023, that killed more than 53,500 people in Turkey and left millions homeless. The charity raised billions of lira for housing, supplies and other assistance amid widespread criticism of the initial government response.
Levent was jailed along with 13 other suspects on July 16. He has denied using AHBAP’s funds or assets for personal benefit and said his private financial dealings were unrelated to the charity.
“My personal debts and receivables have nothing whatsoever to do with AHBAP,” he said during questioning.
Uğur, whose Babala TV platform helped coordinate and publicize relief efforts after the earthquakes, was jailed with eight others on allegations of breach of trust and money laundering.
He has denied wrongdoing and said he did not specifically direct people to donate to AHBAP.
As the investigation has expanded, prosecutors have questioned numerous public figures about social media posts and broadcasts supporting the charity after the earthquakes. Journalists and a musician were among five people summoned last week.
They were mainly asked about posts or broadcasts in which they promoted, praised or discussed AHBAP’s relief work. Several said they had relied on information available at the time and had no personal or financial relationship with Levent.
Being summoned for questioning does not mean the public figures are suspects or accused of involvement in the alleged financial crimes.
The investigation has grown through four rounds of operations since Levent and 21 others were detained in the first wave.
Founded by Levent in 2017, AHBAP became one of Turkey’s most prominent civil society organizations through its volunteer network and large-scale response to the 2023 earthquakes.
Its fundraising and relief operations attracted widespread public support as an alternative to government-led aid efforts.