A
What was the operation?
The operation on the morning of December 17, 2013 was the open wave of an investigation that began on September 19, 2012 and ran roughly 15 months. The Istanbul Financial Crimes Bureau's investigation documented a network around Reza Zarrab that, via Halkbank, breached the U.S. sanctions on Iran — moving billions of dollars in gold and laundered money. In return, cash, jewelry and various bribes were paid to the then Minister of Interior, Minister of Economy, and EU Minister.
The 53 people detained on operation day included three ministers' sons, Halkbank CEO Süleyman Aslan, and businessmen. At Aslan's home, $4.5 million in cash was found in shoeboxes.
B
Categories of acts
- Zafer Çağlayan — Minister of Economy; €45M + cash + jewelry + piano.
- Muammer Güler — Minister of Interior; $6.6M across 14 acts; via his son Barış Güler.
- Egemen Bağış — EU Minister; $1.5M across 3 acts.
- TÜRGEV / Bilal Erdoğan — ₺3M across two acts.
- Süleyman Aslan — Halkbank CEO; €3M + $3.9M + ₺1M across 15 acts.
- Iran sanctions breach — fictitious transit trade; 41 folders of forged documents; gold trade.
- Money laundering — shell companies; Dubai Al Salam Exchange link.
MIT warning (April 18, 2013)
The Turkish intelligence service's information note no. 45650928 shows that the Prime Minister had been warned 8 months in advance. Why the investigation was not obstructed earlier — why it was held until December 17, 2013 — remains a central question.