Authorities on Wednesday raided the headquarters of one of Turkey’s few broadcasters not aligned with the government, and appointed a trustee manager to oversee the popular news channel as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.
The channel’s broadcasts were temporarily halted. Last week, two journalists were arrested, and two others were placed under house arrest for alleged misleading reports on a recent Turkish investment fund scandal — which has implicated a senior figure from Erdogan’s ruling party.
Police surrounded the station’s headquarters while financial crimes investigation teams conducted searches inside, media reports said.
A statement from the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office said an investigation was launched into Halk TV chairman Cafer Mahiroglu over allegations of bid rigging, bribery and money laundering. Halk TV has reported extensively on the trial and other cases against Imamoglu. Detention warrants were issued against 17 suspects and 11 of them were taken into custody, the statement said.
Trustees were also appointed to run other companies owned by Mahiroglu. Imamoglu, who has been behind bars for more than a year, was considered the main challenger to Erdogan. The raid on the channel came as Istanbul’s imprisoned mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was due to appear in court to defend himself against allegations of widespread corruption in a case that critics also see as a politically motivated move against the opposition.
