In a significant legal maneuver, Turkish prosecutors have taken control of the media conglomerate Can Holding, citing allegations of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. The authorities issued arrest warrants for ten executives within the company and conducted raids on the residences of key figures including Mehmet Sakir Can, Kemal Can, and Kenan Tekdag. These individuals have had their personal assets seized, encompassing real estate and financial holdings.
The management of Can Holding has been transferred to Türkiye’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, a governing body within the banking system. This body has assured that business operations will proceed uninterrupted, and employee welfare will remain a priority. The charges stem from a report by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board, which, after a detailed police investigation, put forth compelling evidence. It outlined that “large sums of money of unknown origin were transferred” through Can Holding’s companies, with efforts made to obscure these funds’ trails and evade tax obligations through falsified transactions as reported by JURIST.
Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders acknowledged the necessity of addressing endemic corruption within the sector. However, he also expressed concerns about the increasing concentration of media control in government hands, which purportedly extends to 90% of Türkiye’s media landscape. Türkiye’s efforts to address such financial crimes have been ongoing and are reflected in recent statistics, with the nation scoring an 8 out of 10 on the global crime index, indicating the prevalence of these issues as noted by DW.
Can Holding, headquartered in Istanbul, spans diverse sectors with 121 companies under its umbrella, including well-known media outlets like Haberturk, Show TV, and Bloomberg HT. It also maintains interests in other ventures such as the construction giant Tefken Holding and Istanbul Bilgi University. This recent development underscores the ongoing tension between the need for rigorous financial oversight and the implications of heightened governmental influence in the media sector.