Ahbap Case: Haluk Levent and Oguzhan Ugur Arrested in Istanbul

ISTANBUL — In a massive escalation of the ongoing “Ahbaplar Crime Syndicate” investigation, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has officially arrested high-profile musician Haluk Levent and Babala TV founder Oğuzhan Uğur. Following the second wave of operations in July 2026, Uğur and eight other suspects were remanded in custody, bringing the total number of arrests in the probe to 27.

The extensive investigation focuses on allegations of embezzlement, abuse of trust, and massive money laundering involving billions of Turkish Liras collected during the devastating February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.

The Roots of the Investigation: Earthquake Donations and Laundering Claims

The judicial process, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, stems from the aftermath of the 2023 disaster. During the crisis, public debates sparked intense friction over allegations that state institutions like AFAD and Kredite (Kızılay) were systematically discredited in favor of private NGOs. Following a deep dive by civil inspectors from the Ministry of Interior and court-appointed financial experts, severe financial irregularities were uncovered within the Ahbap Association.

The primary charges leveled against the suspects include “abuse of trust due to service/profession” and “laundering of assets acquired through criminal activity (money laundering)”. As part of the ongoing legal measures, the assets of the Ahbap Association and the prominent suspects have been entirely frozen, and government trustees have been appointed to oversee four affiliated corporations.

The First Wave: Haluk Levent’s Arrest and the “Gambling” Confession

The initial phase of the operation led to the immediate arrest of Ahbap Association founder Haluk Levent on July 16, 2026. Alongside Levent, prominent lawyer Ece Güner and Levent’s executive assistant Yeliz Kaya were among the first 14 individuals detained. The cell of detainees rapidly grew to 18 within days.

Before his social media channels were restricted, Levent published a multi-page, highly sensational public statement titled “Veda Öncesi” (Before Farewell) and “Son Mektup-Veda” (The Last Letter – Farewell). In these letters, Levent shocking confessed to a severe gambling addiction, admitting he succumbed to his vices and entered a massive debt spiral by borrowing immense sums from hundreds of private individuals.

“I fell victim to my gambling passion and made highly irregular debt arrangements using association channels to clear my personal financial spiral. However, not a single Lira of the earthquake relief fund was stolen. I never betrayed the public’s donations.”
— Haluk Levent, in his final letter

Levent also alleged a judicial conspiracy against him in his letters, directly targeting Justice Minister Akın Gürlek and claiming that certain judiciary members made inappropriate remarks regarding the minister during his interrogation.

The Second Wave: Oğuzhan Uğur and Financial Auditors Detained

The second wave of the crackdown struck on July 17, when Babala TV founder Oğuzhan Uğur was detained at his residence in Çekmeköy, Istanbul. Following extensive questioning by law enforcement and prosecutors, Uğur was officially arrested by a nighttime duty magistrate court on July 20. Alongside Uğur, nine other figures—including the association’s former treasurer Hüseyin Küçük, as well as independent financial advisors Ersin Gökgün and Emre Kartaloğlu—were sent to prison.

Key Defense Arguments in Court

• Oğuzhan Uğur’s Defense: Uğur completely denied any commercial links, partnerships, or secret transactions with Haluk Levent or the Ahbap Association. He argued that his financial records strictly reflect legitimate corporate income from Babala TV and Gain Media. Uğur further stated that he had not physically met or spoken with Levent since 2023 due to personal disputes, emphasizing that his platform only acted as an information router during the 2023 earthquake.
• The Financial Auditors’ Defense: The arrested certified public accountants (including Emre Kartaloğlu, Emir Taşar, and Ersin Gökgün) claimed that the financial compliance reports they prepared for Ahbap post-earthquake were strictly “limited scope verification reports.” They asserted that their role was only to log specific bank inflows, not to perform a forensic, deep-dive fraud or embezzlement audit, thereby pleading not guilty to laundering charges.

Case Overview and Legal Status

Below is a summary of the current judicial standing of the high-profile case:

The high-stakes investigation continues to widen as prosecutors await deeper forensic reports on cross-border wire transfers and digital accounting ledgers.