MASAK finds 236 million lira in unexplained transfers tied to detained journalist Tahir Sarıkaya

September 21, 2026 at 07:20 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A MASAK financial intelligence report has identified over 236 million lira in suspicious transactions linked to detained journalist Tahir Sarıkaya. The report, part of an Istanbul prosecutor's investigation into disinformation and blackmail allegations, found the transfers inconsistent with Sarıkaya's financial profile. It also flagged 499 separate crypto transactions totaling 21.4 million lira as suspicious.

Key Facts

The MASAK report found total money movements exceeding 236 million 103 thousand lira linked to Tahir Sarıkaya.
Sarıkaya's crypto accounts received 21 million 409 thousand 825 lira across 499 separate transactions.
The same platform saw 27 million 569 thousand lira sent from Sarıkaya's accounts in 320 transactions.
The report concluded the transactions were too frequent and large to be explained by personal borrowing and were inconsistent with journalistic activities.

MASAK Report Findings

The MASAK report, obtained during the investigation, identified total money movements exceeding 236 million 103 thousand lira linked to Tahir Sarıkaya. The report stated that the explanations for these transactions were inadequate and inconsistent with Sarıkaya's financial profile. It noted that the frequency and size of the transactions could not be explained by personal borrowing and should be considered 'suspicious money transfers requiring explanation'. The report also stated that these amounts did not align with journalistic activities.

Crypto Asset Transactions

An examination of Sarıkaya's crypto assets revealed that 21 million 409 thousand 825 lira entered his account through 499 separate transactions. The KOM (Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime) unit classified these movements as 'suspicious crypto money movement' in the report table. Additionally, 27 million 569 thousand lira was sent from Sarıkaya's accounts on the same platform across 320 transactions.