29 Detained as Turkey Probes Betting & Money Laundering

An investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has resulted in the detention of 29 suspects over alleged illegal betting-related activity and suspected money laundering in Turkey. Turkish media reports say the file also examines several football-related elements, including betting-linked financial movements and a specific fixture — Kasımpaşa vs. Samsunspor, played on 26 October 2024.

Operation And Detentions

According to the reporting, law-enforcement teams carried out coordinated operations under prosecutor-led orders, with Istanbul as the hub and actions extending to other provinces. The detentions form part of a broader criminal inquiry that treats illegal betting as not only a sports-linked allegation, but also a potential source of financial proceeds that may have been moved through the banking system.

For international readers, it is important to note that in Turkey, detention is a procedural measure used during an investigation stage. The purpose is typically to secure statements, verify identities and roles, and prevent risks such as flight or evidence tampering while prosecutors review records. At this point, the case remains an ongoing investigation and not a final judicial determination.

Why Erden Timur Is Included?

Among those detained is Erden Timur, a prominent businessman and former executive of Galatasaray S.K. Timur, who served as the Vice Chairman of Galatasaray Sportif A.Ş. between 2022 and 2024, is described in Turkish coverage as appearing in the file as a suspect. Media reports frame his inclusion around financial transactions that investigators are reviewing within the broader illegal betting and money-laundering allegations.

At this stage, the legally accurate position is that the claims are allegations under examination. Whether any suspect ultimately faces formal charges depends on how prosecutors interpret the evidence, how statements align with documentation, and what a court decides if detention requests or judicial-control measures are sought.

List Of 29 Suspects Reported By Journalist Burak Doğan

Journalist Burak Doğan reported the following full list of 29 individuals for whom detention decisions were issued as part of the betting investigation. Two entries were listed as fugitive at the time of publication:

1. Bahattin Berke Demircan

2. Doğukan Çınar

3. Ergün Nazlı

4. Eyüp Can Temiz

5. Furkan Demir

6. Gökhan Payal

7. Hamit Bayraktar

8. Hüseyin Aybars Tüfekçi

9. İbrahim Yılmaz

10. İlke Tankul

11. İsmail Karakaş

12. Mert Aktaş

13. Fugitive

14. Tufan Kelleci

15. Erden Timur

16. Figen Özkaya

17. Emrah Günaydı

18. Burak Söyleyen

19. Fatih Kulaksız

20. Ecem Alkaş

21. Fugitive

22. Esat Bilayak

23. Mirza Şerifoğlu

24. Enes Bartan

25. Hakan Çakır

26. Serhat Ölmez

27. Umut Esel

28. Buğra Cem İmamoğlulları

29. Burcu Kurt

Some of the names on the list have been discussed in Turkish media in connection with Turkish football administration and club structures. Authorities are expected to continue efforts to locate those reported as fugitives.

Why The Kasımpaşa–Samsunspor Match Is Mentioned?

A significant pillar of the investigation focuses on the Süper Lig fixture between Kasımpaşa and Samsunspor, played on 26 October 2024. Prosecutors are scrutinizing the match following reports of highly irregular betting patterns and financial movements detected during the period.

Sources close to the case indicate that at least six suspects are being investigated specifically for their roles surrounding this fixture. A key point of interest in the file is the unusual sequence of events during the match, most notably involving Samsunspor midfielder Olivier Ntcham, who missed two penalties within an eight-minute window.

While the inquiry explores whether such on-field events were linked to efforts to influence the outcome for betting purposes, authorities emphasize that these remain allegations. The investigation is currently analyzing the alignment between these match events, betting surges, and the HTS (telecommunication) records of the suspects to determine if a formal criminal charge is warranted.

How Betting Allegations And Money Laundering Claims Are Linked?

A key point in the case is that the investigation is not limited to betting activity alone. Prosecutors are also looking at whether money allegedly connected to betting was circulated through different accounts and individuals, potentially in ways designed to make the funds appear legitimate.

In practical terms, the “laundering” suspicion in cases like this often concerns how money is routed: whether transfers are broken into smaller amounts, whether third parties are used to move funds, or whether payments are described as legitimate commercial income without a clear business rationale. This is why Turkish media describe the file as a combined illegal betting investigation in Turkey and a suspected financial-crime probe.

What Happens Next In The Legal Process?

After detention, suspects are typically questioned by police and then referred to prosecutors. The prosecutor can choose to release individuals, request judicial-control measures (such as travel bans or reporting obligations), or refer suspects to court with a request for pre-trial detention.

Legal observers note that decisions at this stage tend to depend on factors such as the seriousness of the alleged offenses, the strength and consistency of records, and risks such as fleeing or interfering with evidence. Authorities have emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that all individuals are treated as suspects, with the presumption of innocence applying unless a court rules otherwise.