The Polat couple is well known on Turkish social media for their posts displaying their lavish lifestyles. A post from September showed the couple renting a private jet to celebrate their anniversary. In celebration of Dilan’s birthday in July, Engin shared a post on social media showing that he had purchased a large billboard advertisement on New York City’s Time Square with the words ‘I love you’ and a picture of the couple embracing. Another post showing Dilan drinking from a gold-rimmed coffee cup set was another well known example of the couple’s luxury excesses.
Houses raided
As a part of the investigation, the couple’s house was raided for evidence, along with the residences of other suspects involved. The raid produced 80 documents taken from the Polats’ house; significant amounts of cash in US Dollars and Liras was also found at the residences of the other involved suspects. The Polat couple remains in custody as authorities collect testimonies from the other suspects. The couple is scheduled to testify last once testimonies from the other suspects have already been collected.
Investigation centers around the laundering of over 200 million TL
According to a statement released by the Anatolia Public Prosecutor, the investigation against the Polat couple is based on “violation of laws regarding the prevention of money laundering, violation of tax law, and violation of regulations regarding sports betting.” News reports following the couple’s arrest indicate that the case centers around fake invoices issued to close relatives of the couple from three companies that had been listed as liquidated. The amount of money transferred as part of these transactions has been estimated at 200-225 million Turkish Liras. First transferred to the accounts of close relatives, the money then allegedly made its way to Milda Gayrimenkul, a real estate company owned by Engin Polat. As part of the investigation assets belonging to the couple have been seized.
Statement from the Polat couple
Following the seizure of their assets, the Polat couple released a statement apologizing for their “excesses and indulgences”:
“While running our businesses, we have indulged in some ethically questionable excesses, spoils, and ostentations…we are embarrassed in the presence of God. During this process, we have realized better that we have sometimes exceeded our limits…After engaging in self-reflection, we have become aware that we need to publicly apologize to our nation and to God, away from indulgence and extremism.”
Another statement from the couple’s lawyer asserted that the couple had been victim of “defamation centered on baseless allegations, aimed at generating news content.”
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Former Interior Minister Soylu mentioned in Polat video
Shortly after the investigation against the couple was launched, a video surfaced of Dilan Polat praising Turkey’s former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, saying “Thanks to God, we were well taken care of. I cannot write to the minister for everything, but from time to time, holiday to holiday, I was able to use my rights and make a request.”
While Soylu’s exact connection to the Polat couple’s case remains unclear, the former Interior Minister, who now serves as a member of the Turkish Parliament, has become well known for his frequent involvement in scandal and controversy over the years. In a notable episode in 2021, Turkish mob boss Sedat Peker accused Soylu and other high-ranking Turkish government officials of corruption in a series of online videos. Following last month’s bombing in Ankara, an apparent feud between Soylu and his successor, current Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, received public attention.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
