Prosecutor seeks arrest for former minister over stock trading

Prosecutors have asked a criminal court of first instance to arrest former minister and AKP deputy chair Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya. She was questioned on Wednesday as a suspect in a fund investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Kaya arrived at the courthouse with her husband, Ilyas Kaya, and former Capital Markets Board chairman Ibrahim Omer Gonul. The three entered through Gate C accompanied by security personnel, while journalists waited outside. Kaya wore dark sunglasses and declined to answer reporters' questions.

“Please allow us to give our statement.”

Questioning began around 11:00 and ended around 20:00. Shortly afterward, at about 22:40, Kaya was sent to the court with a request for her arrest on charges of membership in an organization established to commit a crime and opposition to the Capital Markets Law.

Her husband and Gonul were also sent to court but were placed under judicial control instead of arrest. They face a ban on travel abroad and a prohibition on signing documents.

The prosecution's referral document alleges that Kaya possessed undisclosed information capable of affecting the price, value, or investment decisions concerning shares of Ozata Denizcilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. It also cites her meetings with Tera Group executives, including Erdin Ozel and board chairman Emre Tezmen.

According to the document, Tera Group companies and funds made intensive purchases of OZATD shares. The share price increase began in April 2026 and continued until September 16, 2026, one day before a liquidation decision concerning the funds.