Mehmet Baltaci, former chairman of Akfel Holding, who fled to Canada in 2014, faces 7.5 to 15 years imprisonment for membership in an armed terrorist organization. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office completed its investigation into Baltacı’s alleged FETÖ (Fethullahist Terrorist Organization) connections, with the indictment revealing systematic financial transfers to terror-linked entities. His brother, Abdurrahman Baltaci, remains a non-detained defendant in a separate case targeting TUSKON members.
The MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) report shows Akfel Holding accounts transferred funds to recipients under investigation for FETÖ membership and terrorism financing. The vast majority of individuals and entities receiving these transfers had documented ties to the organization. Following the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, many recipient institutions were shut down by authorities due to confirmed FETÖ affiliations.
Revenue Administration Ministry records reveal Akfel Holding omitted several companies from mandatory ‘Form Ba’ declarations regarding goods and services purchases. These companies received money from Akfel accounts, but the purpose of these transfers remains undetermined due to missing documentation.
In January 2014, months before Baltacı fled, suspicious share transfers occurred in companies linked to Akfel Holding. Both Mehmet Fatih and Abdurrahman Baltacı participated in these transactions as the holding faced transfer to TMSF (Savings Deposit Insurance Fund). The timing suggests attempts to shield assets from government seizure.
Abdurrahman Baltacı’s involvement in the TUSKON case demonstrates family-level coordination. TUSKON, Turkey’s former largest business confederation, faced prosecution for purported FETÖ links. The parallel cases suggest the brothers operated a coordinated network supporting organizational objectives.
In conclusion, the MASAK report documents systematic transfers to FETÖ-linked entities, while suspicious share transfers before seizure and Abdurrahman’s parallel prosecution indicate coordinated corporate support for the organization. Baltacı’s 2014 flight to Canada, before the 2016 coup attempt triggered widespread prosecutions, complicates any potential extradition and imprisonment.
