State Seizes Turkiye's Haberturk Amidst Wide Fraud Probe

Istanbul, Sep 11 (AP) A significant development in Turkiye’s media landscape unfolded as one of the nation’s largest television news broadcasters, Haberturk, was taken over by the state amidst a wide-reaching investigation into fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering, as reported by various media outlets on Thursday. The seizure of assets includes Haberturk among 121 companies under Can Holding that have been confiscated and transferred to the state-operated Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, according to reports by the state-run Anadolu Agency and others. Additionally, Show TV, another prominent broadcaster, was also seized. In conjunction with the crackdown, arrest warrants were issued for 10 individuals, including senior executives of Can Holding. The conglomerate’s portfolio spans numerous sectors, encompassing media, education, energy, hotels, health, construction, and logistics. The Kucukcekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul released a statement indicating that companies under Can Holding were embroiled in fraudulent activities, tax evasion, and laundering criminal proceeds. Investigative efforts revealed that a substantial influx of unidentified funds was funneled through companies within Can Holding, subsequently transferred among them to obscure the original source. Forged documents were purportedly employed to mitigate tax liabilities. Prosecutors further asserted that some operations of Can Holding were “directly financed with criminal revenues.” Notably, like the majority of media entities within Turkiye, Haberturk is known for its pro-government stance, supporting the administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As of Thursday morning, the broadcaster continued its normal operations. According to the 2024 press freedom index from Reporters Without Borders, Turkiye ranks 158th out of 180 nations, with the advocacy group noting that approximately 90 percent of the country’s media is influenced by the government. (AP) SKS SKS

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