The investigation into the financial activities of the Sarıgül family took a sharp turn on October 30, 2026, as authorities executed a new operation that brought ten individuals into custody. The probe, which has gripped public attention, centers on allegations of systemic money laundering and the illicit movement of vast sums of capital. For Mustafa Sarıgül—a former Şişli Belediye Chairman and current Member of Parliament for Erzincan—the stakes have escalated significantly as the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office continues to peel back the layers of a complex financial apparatus.
At the heart of the case is a series of transactions that investigators believe were designed to obscure the origins of significant wealth. The Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office is scrutinizing a web of companies established both domestically and abroad. The core of the accusation is that these entities were used to facilitate the movement of high-volume funds that lacked a clear, legal source. Beyond the suspicion of money laundering, the investigation encompasses claims of tax evasion and the misuse of funds that were purportedly earmarked for specific investment contracts. Instead of being deployed as promised, these assets were allegedly laundered to provide them with a veneer of legal legitimacy.
As the operation unfolded on October 30, detention orders were issued for 11 suspects. Of those, ten were successfully apprehended. The list of those now in custody includes Metin Mevlüt Sarıgül, Ömer Yazıcı, Aynur Aydın—noted as the founder of Şişli MYO—as well as Gençağa Meriç, Ahmet Meriç, Berrak Çetinkaya, Davut Kaymak, Altuğ Altınbaş Sürer, Mehmet Meriç, and Süreyya Kurtulan. While the dragnet was extensive, it was not entirely successful; authorities determined that one suspect, Orhan Yıldırım, had already fled the country, placing him beyond the immediate reach of the current operation.
As the operation unfolded on October 30, detention orders were issued for 11 suspects.
The legal machinery moved quickly following the arrests. By the end of the day on October 30, eight individuals who had been previously detained were processed and referred to the judiciary. This move signals a transition from the investigative phase to a more formal judicial review, where prosecutors will present their findings to a court. The complexity of the case is further underscored by the fact that the investigation now involves a total of 22 suspects, reflecting the breadth of the alleged criminal network.
This investigation is not limited to financial crimes alone. The broader case file includes allegations of sexual assault, adding a layer of gravity to the proceedings that extends well beyond the balance sheets and corporate structures. As the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office continues its work, the case is slated for transfer to the Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office for further evaluation. This shift suggests that the inquiry has reached a level of national significance that requires the oversight of central authorities. As it stands, the Sarıgül family remains at the center of a sprawling legal battle, with the state determined to trace the path of funds that allegedly total in the hundreds of millions and even billions of euros.