BankPozitif Management Transferred to SDIF, Erkan Kork Arrested in Payfix Operation – Breaking News from Turkey
New Developments in Investigation of Illegal Betting Sites in Türkiye
The investigation into illegal betting sites operating in Türkiye and laundering assets from crime has taken a new turn with recent developments. The Banking Regulation and Supervisory Board (BRSA) has announced that the management of BankPozitif Credit and Development Bank has been transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF).
According to a statement released, the partnership rights of Bankpozitif Credit and Development Bank Inc. were decided to be used by the SDIF as part of an investigation conducted by judicial authorities. Additionally, 29 out of the 43 suspects detained in the operation have been referred to court.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has been leading the illegal betting investigation, with operations on suspects completed by the Istanbul Police Department on March 14. Among the suspects, including the owner and official of the payment organization Payfix, 29 individuals were taken to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, while the other 14 were released.
In a significant development, Erkan Kork, the owner of Pozitifbank, Payfix, and Flash TV, was among the 21 people arrested in connection with the investigation. The investigation revealed that since 2014, the software developed by Payfix enabled numerous international virtual betting sites to operate in Türkiye by integrating illegal betting panels into their financial system.
Moreover, it was uncovered that suspects utilized the Payfix service infrastructure to transfer money to illegal betting sites and create fake account wallets, circulating revenues from bets through these counterfeit accounts. The investigation also led to the confiscation of companies, including Flash Haber TV, owned by Göktuğ Multimedya Publishing Joint Stock Company linked to Erkan Kork.
As the investigation into illegal betting activities continues, authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the crimes committed and the laundering of assets derived from these illegal activities. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
