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Turkish court releases husband of social media influencer accused of tax evasion, money laundering

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A Turkish court has ordered the release of Engin Polat, husband of prominent social media influencer and beauty center owner Dilan Polat, along with whom he was arrested on charges of money laundering and tax evasion, local media reported on Friday.

Polat, who was detained on November 4, 2023, along with his wife, as part of a large-scale investigation into financial crimes, is accused of laundering millions of Turkish lira through their business ventures. Authorities allege that the couple used fake invoices and shell companies to conceal illegal earnings, with transactions exceeding 200 million Turkish lira (approximately $6 million).

The Anadolu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance ruled on Friday for the release of the remaining four defendants in custody, out of a total of 28 defendants in the case, including Engin Polat, his father, Sezgin Polat, and his brother, Alper Kürşat Polat.

The court’s decision to release all suspects in custody came after Dilan Polat was released and placed under judicial supervision on August 19.

The defendants, including the Polat couple, face up to 40 years in prison on charges that include “establishing, leading and participating in an organization with the intent to commit a crime,” “laundering assets obtained from criminal activities” and “violating Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Joint Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions.”

Engin Polat is identified as the “ringleader” in the case, where the defendants are accused of laundering illegal betting money through the companies they established. It is noted that Polat had connections with the leader of an illegal betting organization.

According to a report by the İhlas news agency (İHA) on Friday, Engin Polat denied the allegation of having shell companies in his defense in court, claiming that all the profits from the companies he and his family manage were obtained through legal means. Polat also requested the return of the seized companies.

The Polats, who rose to fame for their opulent lifestyle displayed on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, have been at the center of intense public and media scrutiny. The Turkish Ministry of Trade, following this case, launched an investigation into the financial activities of around 600 social media influencers in Turkey, focusing on possible money laundering, tax evasion and fraudulent activities masked by their extravagant online personas.

Critics argue that the release of figures like the Polats contrasts sharply with the ongoing detention of government dissidents, accusing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of favoritism.

“This country is hell for those who try to earn a living through honest work, but a paradise for thieves. … Engin Polat and Dilan Polat … were released within a year. Now they are free to live a life of ultra-luxury. This is the Turkey of the AKP for you,” political scientist Burak Yıldırım said in a series of tweets on Friday.

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