Request for investigation permission against CMB Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül

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.

Details of the letter sent by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terrorism Financing and Laundering Crime Investigation Bureau to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance on September 30, 2026 have been revealed. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested permission to conduct an investigation against the Chairman of the Capital Markets Board, İbrahim Ömer Gönül, for "abuse of office".

MANIPULATION OVER FUNDS IS UNDER THE CENTER

In the prosecutor's office's letter; It was stated that four separate investigations were carried out comprehensively upon notices and findings that manipulative actions, which were considered to have been carried out in the shares traded in the Borsa Istanbul Equity Market, were carried out through portfolio management companies and investment funds.

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. The prosecutor's office, the actions in the files; He reported that it was evaluated within the scope of crimes such as aggravated fraud, forming an organization for the purpose of committing a crime, laundering property values ​​resulting from crime and market fraud.

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 obliged to carry out its supervision and examination activities on investment funds in a multi-layered manner through financial and digital surveillance mechanisms.

It was stated that the board has the primary responsibility for protecting investor rights, supervising whether the funds operate in accordance with the legislation, and monitoring market and price movements.

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 WERE SENT TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FROM 2024 TO SEPTEMBER 2026

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.

The prosecutor's office stated that many investors suffered serious losses during the process, which was publicly described as a "fund crisis". 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.

DETECTION OF “EARNINGS THAT CAN BE DESCRIBED IMPOSSIBLE”

In the article, it was stated that some funds made extraordinary profits compared to similar funds in terms of their activities and investment strategies, and that investors invested in these funds with the assurance that they were under the supervision of the CMB.

Despite this, it was noted that some investors were victimized by not receiving the return on their investments, or even the principal money they invested.

The prosecutor's office stated that in the investigation files, individuals and companies that provided "impossible profits" as a result of the guidance of portfolio management companies, their controlling partners, managers and some real and legal persons were identified in the investigation files.

EVALUATION OF “CLEAR AND SUFFICIENT SIGN” ABOUT GÖNÜL

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.

REQUEST FOR PERMISSION FROM THE MINISTRY OF TREASURY AND FINANCE

In accordance with Article 133 of the Capital Markets Law No. 6362, the permission of the relevant Minister is required to conduct an investigation into the crimes allegedly committed by the CMB Chairman and members in connection with their duties.

In this context, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested an investigation permission from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance in order to conduct the necessary investigation against İbrahim Ömer Gönül and to clarify all aspects of the incident. It is stated that the request letter was sent to the Ministry on September 30, 2026.