Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Laundering Crimes Investigation Bureau took a new step within the scope of the fund investigation.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office applied to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance to grant permission to investigate CMB Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül for "abuse of office", stating that there were "clear and sufficient signs" that he did not fulfill his duties and responsibilities in the audit of investment funds.
In its letter dated September 30, 2026, the Terrorism Financing and Laundering Crime Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested permission to conduct an investigation against Gönül for the crime of "abuse of office".
MINISTER ŞİMŞEK APPOINTED THE INSPECTION BOARD
According to information obtained from Treasury and Finance sources, upon the request for permission to investigate former Capital Markets Board (CMB) Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül within the scope of the fund investigation carried out by the prosecutor's office, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek appointed the Inspection Board on Friday to conduct a preliminary examination and investigation in accordance with the relevant legislation.
4 SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED
In the prosecutor's letter, it was stated that four separate investigations were continuing comprehensively.
It was noted that during the investigations, the shares traded in Borsa Istanbul and the funds open and closed to TEFAS were examined together, and the related and simultaneous movements between the funds and the shares were investigated.
ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO CMB'S AUDIT RESPONSIBILITY
In the letter of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was emphasized that the CMB is responsible for the financial and digital surveillance of the audit and examination activities on investment funds.
In the article, it was stated that among the main duties of the CMB is to closely monitor whether the funds cause artificial price movements that do not comply with economic and financial realities in the shares traded in Borsa Istanbul.
REPORTS FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS WERE SENT TO THE PROSECUTION OFFICE
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office pointed out that criminal complaints were filed with the prosecutor's office in line with the reports prepared by the CMB regarding the manipulative transactions carried out through funds in some shares in the Borsa Istanbul Equity Market between 2024 and September 2026.
In particular, in the prosecutor's letter; Attention was drawn to funds such as Tera Portföy First Hedge Fund, Pusula Portföy Equity Fund, Pusula Portföy First Variable Fund, Tera Portföy Algorithmic Strategies Hedge Fund, Atlas Portföy Hedge Fund and Hedef Portföy Second Hedge Fund.
In the article, it was stated that some funds made extraordinary profits compared to similar funds in terms of their activity and investment strategies, and that individuals and companies that made "impossible profits" were identified in the investigation files as a result of the guidance of the portfolio management companies, their controlling partners, managers and some real and legal persons within the funds.
HE WAS ACCUSED OF NOT FULFILLING HIS DUTY
The most striking part of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's letter included the evaluation regarding the responsibility of CMB President İbrahim Ömer Gönül during his term of office.
The Prosecutor's Office evaluated that "there are clear and sufficient indications" that Gönül did not fulfill his duties and responsibilities with his authority to examine, audit and evaluate arising from the legislation.
IN WHICH YEARS DID GÖNÜL WORK?
İbrahim Ömer Gönül was appointed as the chairman of the Capital Markets Board (CMB) on April 18, 2022 and served until April 18, 2026. Gönül resigned from this position due to the expiration of his term of office.
Gönül has been working at the Presidency of the Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority since May 8, 2026.
“A THOUSAND-FOLD INCREASE IN SHARES MAY BE THE FAVOR OF THE PUBLIC”
Before the statement, Gönül answered the questions of Hürriyet's Musa Kesler and said, "Can a thousand-fold increase in a share be overlooked by the CMB? How could the manipulation of these funds go unnoticed?" he answered the following question:
"Audits and surveillance are strict. A manipulation or an illegal action cannot go unnoticed. Of course, nothing is 100 percent. Also, first of all, it is necessary to prove it. If the public favors and accumulates a share, we cannot immediately classify it as 'manipulation'. We need to investigate and prove it. This does not happen from one day to the next, it takes an average of three to four months. The file is created just like that."
Gönül, while explaining how the audits were carried out, said that there were surveillance units in the CMB:
"These surveillance units follow the increases in the shares every day. Those who are suspected of artificial increases or manipulation are scrutinized and examined. If the suspicion intensifies, 'further investigation' begins. Mutual transactions are examined. The relationship between the buyer and the seller is examined. If the suspicion becomes concrete, a file is created and the investigation begins. Necessary sanctions are applied. These surveillances are continuous. We have carried out the necessary inspection and surveillance appropriately. We will provide detailed information on these issues to the prosecutor's office."
