Turkish singer and Ahbap Association Chair Haluk Levent has been detained as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering and financial irregularities involving the charity, including claims concerning donations collected for victims of the Feb. 6, 2023 earthquakes.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched the investigation over allegations of irregularities at Ahbap, a nongovernmental organization founded by Levent in 2017.
Levent is accused of violating Türkiye's associations law and laundering assets allegedly derived from criminal activity. Prosecutors also raised allegations concerning organized criminal activity as part of the wider investigation.
A total of 20 suspects, including lawyer Ece Güner, were detained in an operation targeting Ahbap members, employees and individuals allegedly linked to the association.
During searches at addresses connected to the suspects, authorities seized digital materials, cash, gold, checks, promissory notes and various documents.
