ANKARA — Istanbul prosecutors have indicted the CEO of Denizbank and one other former govt over an estimated $44 million Ponzi scheme that drew cash from dozens of individuals together with soccer stars, in response to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Company.
Anadolu reported on Tuesday that the indictment is searching for sentences of 72 to 240 years for Hakan Ates, the CEO of Denizbank, which is owned by Dubai’s Emirates NBD, and Mehmet Aydogdu, a former financial institution govt.
The accusations come as a part of an ongoing case opened final yr towards former Denizbank department supervisor Secil Erzan.
Erzan, who has been behind bars since April 2023, was accused of gathering hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from folks, promising as much as 250% curiosity for what she described as a secretive fund owned by the financial institution, which turned out to be a Ponzi scheme, in response to an indictment ready final yr.
Twenty-four folks together with Turkish soccer stars stated they have been lured into handing over hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to Erzan, in response to each indictments. A few of these transactions befell outdoors the financial institution in locations like bakeries. In some instances, complainants did not acquired documentation about their investments.
The indictment names former Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan, Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, and former Turkish nationwide staff coach Fatih Terim amongst others.
Prosecutors allege within the new expenses that Ates and Aydogdu, who had “shut communication and relations with among the complainants,” have been conscious of the fund, in response to Anadolu. Each Ates and Aydogdu deny any information of Erzan’s actions and keep their innocence, Anadolu reported.
Denizbank introduced Aydogdu’s resignation from his place as deputy common supervisor final week. In response to the developments, the financial institution, which has been denying any wrongdoing, issued an announcement on Tuesday. It criticized the leak of particulars to the press, arguing that it violated the precept of presumption of innocence. The financial institution acknowledged that such leaks “trample on probably the most elementary precept of legal legislation protected by the structure — the presumption of innocence and the precise to not be tarnished.”
