The Ankara Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı has decided to take the statement of former Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin as part of an ongoing investigation into Alihan Kuriş, the leader of the “Süleymancılar” community. The probe involves charges of managing a criminal organization for profit, qualified fraud, tax law violations, and money laundering, according to official investigation details.
Vehicle Links to Alihan Kuriş Investigation
İdris Naim Şahin became linked to the case after authorities detained Hilmi Tuna Kuriş and Erhan Yılmaz on August 21. The vehicle the two men used while preparing to flee abroad was found to be allocated to the former minister until 2030.
Şahin claimed the vehicle was used without his knowledge. He stated he rented the car to use when visiting Istanbul and agreed it would be kept in a parking lot when not in use. He further asserted he learned through the press that the rental company’s owner used the vehicle to transport Hilmi Tuna Kuriş and Erhan Yılmaz.
Did You Know? Following the discovery of the vehicle’s use, prosecutors expanded their investigation to other cars allocated to İdris Naim Şahin, with ministry sources reporting they were used for “suspicious activities” and purposes other than their allocation.
Justice Minister Cites Evidence Conflicts
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated that the evidence in the case does not align with İdris Naim Şahin’s claims. Gürlek noted that HTS (Historical Traffic Search) records contradict the former minister’s assertion that the car was only used during trips to Istanbul, noting the vehicle had been in use for a long period.
Gürlek also pointed to a prior acquaintance between Şahin and Mehmet Özmen, the individual who drove the vehicle. This connection contradicts the framing of the vehicle’s use as an unauthorized action by a rental company.
Historical Allegations of Blackmail and Belarus Links
The current investigation has resurfaced a September 14, 2011, report filed with the Istanbul Muhabere Elektronik Şube Müdürlüğü. That report alleged a scheme involving bribery through electronics companies, interference in public tenders, and the trafficking of women from Belarus to bureaucrats and businesspeople for the purpose of filming them with hidden cameras to facilitate blackmail.
Mehmet Özmen, who drove the vehicle in the Kuriş case, was named in the 2011 report as the person handling the logistics for this organization. This connects the current vehicle probe to decade-old allegations of systemic blackmail.
On March 24, 2014, then-Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at a rally in Ordu regarding a former colleague who had resigned from the AK Party. Erdoğan stated that this individual, whom he had appointed as a minister, left because there were “blackmail cassettes” that people feared would be revealed.
Legal Response from İdris Naim Şahin
Attorney Gürbüz Özdemir confirmed that İdris Naim Şahin is in Turkey and has proactively submitted a written petition to the Ankara Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı on August 28, 2026. The petition states that Şahin is ready to share all information and documents to help uncover the truth and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
The written statement addresses Justice Minister Gürlek’s comments, asserting that Şahin’s public statements are based on his own knowledge and that he desires for any contradictions between his statements and the investigation’s evidence to be fully researched and clarified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is İdris Naim Şahin being investigated? He is linked to the Alihan Kuriş investigation because a vehicle allocated to him was used by suspects Hilmi Tuna Kuriş and Erhan Yılmaz during their attempt to flee the country. What did Justice Minister Akın Gürlek say about the case? Gürlek stated that HTS records prove the vehicle was used for a long time, contradicting Şahin’s claim that he only used it during visits to Istanbul. What is the “Belarus” connection mentioned in the reports? A 2011 report alleged that women were brought from Belarus to be sent to bureaucrats and businesspeople to be filmed via hidden cameras for blackmail and tender manipulation.
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