Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 74 Suspects Detained in Citizenship Violation Crime

The investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in line with expert and MASAK reports regarding the crimes of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime", "immigrant smuggling", "forgery of official documents", "forgery of private documents", "false declaration in the issuance of official documents", is continuing to identify foreign nationals who have illegally acquired Turkish citizenship.

In this context, the police procedures of 74 suspects detained were completed. The suspects were taken to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. 52 suspects, 7 of whom were detained for other crimes, were referred to the criminal judgeship of peace with a request for arrest. 22 suspects, one of whom was detained for another crime, were sent to the judgeship with a request for judicial control.

STATEMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE

In the statement made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that, as a result of the investigation carried out by the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau and the work carried out by the Anti-Immigrant Smuggling Branch Directorate of the Provincial Police Department, an investigation was launched upon information obtained that some real estate sales to foreign nationals who acquired Turkish citizenship through property acquisition were fraudulent.

Within the scope of the investigation, it was stated in the statement that the records obtained from the Regional Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, expert reports, MASAK analyzes and other information and documents were evaluated together, that the foreign currency inflow required for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship was not actually provided, that the buying and selling transactions were carried out in a collusive manner using the financial resources of intermediary companies or sellers, and that transactions were carried out in violation of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 by preparing unrealistic high-priced expert reports.

In the statement, which pointed out that unfair benefits were obtained from foreign nationals through this method, it was emphasized that the hierarchical structure of the criminal organization, money traffic and action method were revealed and the front companies used in the crime were determined in line with the expert reports, financial analyzes and MASAK data received during the investigation.

The statement said, "According to the findings, it has been understood that 1,70 foreign nationals acquired Turkish citizenship as a result of irregular transactions, and that the total amount of 72 million 250 thousand dollars to be paid due to these transactions was made collusionally, and the necessary administrative process has been initiated to cancel the illegally acquired citizenships." statements were included.

It was stated in the statement that a simultaneous operation was carried out in 13 provinces centered in Istanbul to capture 88 suspects within the scope of the investigation, within the scope of the crimes of "establishing, managing and becoming a member of an organization for the purpose of committing a crime", "immigrant smuggling", "fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations" and "forgery of documents".

In the statement, it was reported that digital materials belonging to the suspects, 2 thousand 11 real estate properties, the hotel in Bağcılar, 86 motor vehicles, 2 yachts, 42 bank accounts, 30 joint stock companies were seized and trustees were appointed to the companies.