Turkish musician and Ahbap Association president Haluk Levent was detained in Bursa by Istanbul Police Department financial crime units on July 12, 2026. According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Levent faces formal investigations into alleged “opposition to the Law on Associations,” “laundering assets derived from crime,” and “membership in an organization.” He has been transferred to Istanbul for questioning.
Scope of the Prosecutor’s Investigation
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the investigation began following allegations that donations collected for the Ahbap Association—particularly those intended for earthquake relief following the February 6, 2023, disasters—were diverted to personal accounts. Prosecutors allege that these funds were used for gambling, transferred to third parties, or moved abroad.
According to the official prosecutor’s statement, investigators tracked approximately 120 million TL in fund transfers from the association into various accounts, including those belonging to Levent’s assistant, identified as YK. Furthermore, officials allege that Levent used accounts belonging to himself and an associate, identified as AÇ, to place a significant amount in legal bets between 2020 and 2026, resulting in substantial financial losses. The prosecution maintains that the scale of this gambling activity is highly suspicious given that Levent reportedly faced challenges with bounced checks and lacked a functioning personal bank account for legitimate commercial use.
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The investigation also covers a separate set of allegations involving real estate. Prosecutors claim that Levent allegedly solicited properties from victims under the guise of charitable donations, which were then transferred to individuals like YK and subsequently re-registered under other names. This segment of the investigation centers on substantial damages.
Levent’s Previous Denials and Legal Challenges
Before his detention, Levent consistently denied allegations of financial misconduct. He frequently cited that the Ahbap Association had been subjected to multiple audits, claiming it was one of the most scrutinized non-governmental organizations in the world. As recently as late June 2026, Levent stated that all association accounts from the earthquake period had been reviewed by Ministry of Interior inspectors.
Levent also faced significant legal pressure regarding his personal finances. On June 18, 2026, the Istanbul Anadolu 24th Enforcement Criminal Court sentenced him to approximately 70 million TL in fines for issuing two bounced checks. The court also imposed a ban on him regarding the issuance of new checks and the opening of check accounts. Following these developments, Levent had announced on social media that he planned to step down from the presidency of the Ahbap Association after completing ongoing projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Why was Haluk Levent detained? He was detained on allegations of money laundering, membership in an organization, and violating the Law on Associations, specifically regarding the handling of earthquake relief donations.
- What is the total amount of money allegedly misused? Prosecutors have cited various figures, including 120 million TL in diverted association funds and significant sums in alleged real estate fraud.
- Has the Ahbap Association been audited before? Levent claimed the association has undergone seven audits, including inspections by the Ministry of Interior.
- What happens to the association’s leadership? Levent had previously announced intentions to step down from his role as president following the completion of current projects.
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