Former minister, husband, ex-SPK head summoned for questioning in fund probe

Istanbul prosecutors have summoned former minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, her husband Ilyas Kaya and former Capital Markets Board head Ibrahim Omer Gonul for questioning as suspects in the fund investigation. The three are scheduled to testify on 5 November at 11:00, according to the summons delivered through the police channel.

The investigation focuses on investment fund and stock market transactions. Prosecutors allege that Kaya and her husband invested 163 million 46 thousand liras in Ozata Denizcilik shares and later sold them for approximately 2 billion 170 million liras in revenue.

“We received no special information or guidance.”

Kaya resigned from all her party duties, including AKP deputy chair, on 26 September after the allegations became public. On 29 September, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested the freezing of the couple's assets and sent notices to relevant institutions.

The couple had previously testified to prosecutors and denied the allegations, stating they received no special information or guidance. They also said they used part of the proceeds from the sales in short-term investment funds.

The Capital Markets Board announced on 1 October that it had opened accounts for the return of profits obtained through 'excessive gains' from funds. On 6 October, it emerged that Kaya and her husband had applied for voluntary repayment.

The liquidation process for 131 investment funds belonging to seven portfolio management companies will take six months and will be conducted by Is Bankasi and Ziraat Bankasi. Earlier in the investigation, 85 people, including a former deputy governor of the Central Bank, had been detained.