5 tapes that shook Turkey: The Halil Falyali scandal
halil falyali
The assassination of Turkish Cypriot businessman Halil Falyalı in February 2022 has reverberated through Turkey and Northern Cyprus, shedding light on alleged entanglements between organized crime, political figures, and illicit activities. Turkish opposition claims several video-tapes shot by Falyalı’s man, containing very incriminating evidence of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s and former PM Binali Yildirim’s son were depicted, are missing. The Falyali case became the most-debated topic of the opposition media during the week, with government sources remaining largely silent on the embarrassing allegations.
A High-Profile Assassination
On February 8, 2022, Halil Falyalı was fatally shot near his residence in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus. Gunmen opened fire on his vehicle, resulting in his death and that of his driver, Murat Demirtaş. Falyalı was a prominent figure in the Turkish Cypriot business community, known for owning several casinos and hotels, including the luxurious Les Ambassadeurs Hotel & Casino. His assassination prompted investigations in both Northern Cyprus and Turkey.
Allegations of Criminal Activities and Political Connections
Falyalı’s name had surfaced in 2021 when Turkish mob boss Sedat Peker released videos alleging that Falyalı was involved in international cocaine trafficking. Peker claimed that cocaine was shipped from Venezuela to Turkey and then to the Middle East, with profits laundered through Falyalı’s casinos in Northern Cyprus. He further alleged that Erkan Yıldırım, son of former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, and former minister Mehmet Ağar were involved in the operation, with then-Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu providing protection. These claims suggested a nexus between organized crime and high-ranking Turkish officials.
Claims of Blackmail and Sensitive Recordings
Beyond drug trafficking allegations, Peker and fugitive journalist Erk Acarer asserted that Falyalı possessed compromising videos of politicians and bureaucrats, allegedly used for blackmail. These recordings were purportedly obtained from guests at his luxury hotels. Acarer claimed that Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ersan Saner was among those recorded, and that the videos were stored on servers in Israel. Such allegations raised concerns about potential foreign leverage over Turkish political figures.
Investigations and Legal Proceedings
Following the assassination, Turkish authorities arrested several suspects, including Mustafa Söylemez and his brother Mehmet Faysal Söylemez, leaders of the notorious Söylemez Brothers crime group. They were charged in connection with Falyalı’s murder. In Northern Cyprus, additional suspects were detained. Investigations revealed the use of automatic weapons in the attack, and evidence was collected from the crime scene.
However, the legal process faced challenges. In October 2023, a trial in the Kyrenia Assize Court was postponed due to a faulty CD containing crucial crime scene footage. This delay underscored the complexities and potential obstacles in prosecuting high-profile cases involving organized crime.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Concerns
The Falyalı case has highlighted the intricate web of relationships between organized crime, political figures, and illicit activities in Turkey and Northern Cyprus. Allegations of drug trafficking, money laundering, and blackmail involving high-ranking officials have raised questions about the integrity of political institutions and the rule of law. The purported existence of compromising recordings stored abroad adds an international dimension to the scandal, suggesting potential vulnerabilities to foreign influence.
Commentary
This is not the first time members of AKP and more prominently MHP were linked to organized crime, in particular to narcotics trafficking. Two court cases concerning the assassination of young nationalist star Mr Sinan Ates and the infamous Ayhan Borsa Kaplan gang revealed incriminating evidence of MHP higher-ups commanding or cooperating with the assassins and the gang.
Halil Falyalı, Sinan Ates murders and the extent of the web of Ayhan Bora Kaplan’s gang in the courts and among politicians will never be fully exposed while AKP-MHP are in power. However, a change in government could trigger massive indictments among both political parties and their cronies, as the opposition already claims.
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