Boss of payments platform Papara arrested in Turkey in relation to illegal gambling
The owner of digital payments platform Papara, Ahmed Faruk Karsli, has been arrested in Turkey along with 12 others as part of a probe into illegal gambling.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday morning in simultaneous raids. It is one of the largest enforcement actions taken against digital payment companies in the country, as the Turkish authorities continue to crack down on illegal gambling.
The arrestees have been charged with a variety of crimes, including the establishment of a criminal organization, money laundering, and violation of Turkish gambling laws.
Analysis by several organizations, including the Turkish Central Bank, found that Papara, which has been in operation since 2016, had regularly processed gambling transactions and had become a significant facilitator of illegal gambling and betting-related crimes, posing a risk to payment security.
The investigation discovered that of the 26,012 accounts operated by Papara, 102 were used to support illegal gambling websites. According to prosecutors, funds were transferred into 274 other bank accounts and 16 cryptocurrency wallets.
Papara received fees at each stage of the process, and allegedly ensured that its security processes did not disrupt the money flow.
In addition to the arrests, prosecutors seized yachts, safety deposit boxes, seven apartments, and 74 vehicles. If found guilty, those arrested could face significant prison sentences.
Earlier this year, official government data published by state-run news agency Anadolu Ajansi revealed that Turkey had closed down over 233,000 illegal gambling sites in 2024.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
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