Caretakers seize Gülen-linked Kaynak Holding

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

Caretakers have forcibly taken over companies belonging to Kaynak Holding due to alleged ties with U.S.-based scholar Fethullah Gülen, a former government ally now considered the head of the “Fethullahist Terror Organization” (FETÖ).

A total of seven administrative caretakers were appointed to 19 companies, a foundation and an association of Kaynak Holding based on a decision by the Anatolia 10th Penal Court of Peace in Istanbul’s Kartal district, as reported by Anadolu Agency. 

The monthly salary of a caretaker will be around 105,000 Turkish Liras ($36,650), so the appointed seven caretakers will cost around 735,000 liras to the business group, as reported by Cihan News Agency. 

The court decided on Sept. 8 that further documentation investigation was needed in line with a criminal investigation run by the Anadolu Public Prosecutor’s Office, which alleged that Kaynak Holding has been involved in the activities of the “FETÖ/Parallel State Structure (PDY)” led by Gülen, the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) ally-turned-nemesis, as well as money laundering, tax evasion and terrorism financing. 

After a detailed review of the seized documents, financial books and digital records, the experts claimed they found proof which showed the mobilization of financing by these companies to the FETÖ-PDY in a preliminary report, according to court files, which were reported by Anadolu Agency.

The court then decided the appointment of administrative caretakers to the business group to “be able to collect the proof in a healthier manner and to prevent any destruction [of the] proof.” 

Caretakers begin service

Caretakers took over the holding’s company buildings on Nov. 18 in Istanbul’s Üsküdar, Bağcılar and Bayrampaşa districts, accompanied by police officers from the advanced financial crimes unit. 

Meanwhile, riot police took security measures around company buildings. 

It was also noted a caretaker was appointed to an İzmir-based company of the holding as well.

Kaynak Holding had previously been the subject of a tax investigation.

Turkey’s banking watchdog said in a statement in March that the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) had seized preferred shares in Bank Asya held by a publishing company and a construction firm, citing irregularities in the sale of their parent company, Kaynak Holding, to a Dutch firm in January.

The watchdog said only preferred shares had been seized, but it did not specify the size of that holding, as reported by Reuters. 

Another court on Oct. 26 also appointed a board of administrative caretakers to manage the Koza-İpek Group, seizing its 23 companies as part of a crackdown on Gülen followers.