The Footprint of 'Iranians' in Money Laundering Case in Turkey

The Turkish prosecutor's office has issued arrest warrants for 417 suspects as part of an investigation into money laundering in Turkey. The detainees are accused of transferring half a billion dollars to banks outside the country. According to Reuters, the Turkish Attorney General stated that this amount, equivalent to 2.5 billion Turkish lira, has been transferred to over '28,000' bank accounts in the United States belonging to 'Iranians in America' since January 1, 2017. Turkish media report on a nationwide police operation in various provinces, inspecting the assets of several individuals and extensive arrests in the country. As Reuters noted, the news agency has not yet been able to obtain information from the police and judicial authorities in Turkey regarding this matter. Turkish CNN reported, citing the Turkish prosecutor's office, that individuals in the country are being prosecuted for jeopardizing Turkey's 'financial and economic security.' In the statement from the Turkish prosecutor's office, the detainees are accused of establishing a money laundering ring aimed at committing 'crimes' and 'violating anti-terrorism financing laws.' This is not the first time the collaboration of Iranians and Turks in money laundering has been raised. Previously, Reza Zarrab, an Iranian businessman residing in Turkey who was detained for economic corruption, was convicted of charges including collaborating in the transfer of a gold shipment to Iran, illegally transferring money and currency through a state-owned Turkish bank, and bribing officials close to government authorities. He was later arrested and imprisoned in the United States for circumventing sanctions against the Islamic Republic and violating U.S. laws in this regard. Other charges against Mr. Zarrab include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, bank fraud, and money laundering. In Zarrab's case, the name of Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a Turkish banker from the state-owned 'Halk Bank,' also appears, who was sentenced to 32 months in prison in a New York court for violating Iran sanctions. Mr. Atilla's defense team stated that he was 'a victim of Reza Zarrab, the architect of this scheme,' and Zarrab cooperated with U.S. prosecutors in hopes of a reduced sentence by accepting 'guilt.' Zarrab testified in Atilla's trial, stating that senior Turkish officials were involved in violating U.S. sanctions against Iran through Halk Bank, and these actions were carried out with the approval of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, an accusation that Erdoğan denies.