Arrest of Turkish influencer on charges of money laundering

The Organized Crime and Terrorism Investigation Department of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation on Sunday against Dilan Polat and her husband, Engin Polat, who are well-known influencers in Turkey. The couple faces four separate charges, including forming and managing a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, and extensive tax evasion.

Created: 19/11/2023

Arrest of Turkish influencer on charges of money laundering

The Organized Crime and Terrorism Investigation Office of the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation on Sunday against Dilan Polat and her husband, Engin Polat, who are well-known influencers in Turkey.
This couple is facing four separate charges, including forming and managing a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, and widespread tax evasion.
In addition to Dilan and Engin Polat, 13 other suspects, including Engin Polat's father (Sezgin Polat), Dilan Polat's brother (Alper Kursor Polat), her grandmother Zahra Yilmaz, her uncle's wife Nilgün Yilmaz, and Dilan Polat's sisters (Can Doğu and Sinem Sila Doğu), are also under investigation.
The investigation has identified substantial evidence indicating the commission of these crimes and the acquisition of assets as a result of these activities.

The seized assets include vehicles related to 21 companies, including those involved in cosmetics, jewelry, and construction where the defendants serve as managers, along with bank accounts, financial instruments, receivables, valuable documents, partnership shares in related companies, safety deposit boxes, cryptocurrency asset accounts, and other assets. Additionally, a travel ban has been imposed on all defendants, prohibiting their exit from Turkey. This investigation has also raised concerns regarding potential document fraud aimed at reducing the tax base from online sales, as well as the involvement of the company Dilan Polat, known as "Rise and Shine Cosmetics," in the issuance of fraudulent documents. Transactions involving the purchase of goods totaling 225,743,000 liras from three supplier companies that issued fake documents are under scrutiny.

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