Kara Haydar investigation expands: wedding gold seized in Van, wife detained in Istanbul

The investigation into money laundering from proceeds of crime, being conducted by the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Mehmet Fatih Tançalan, known on social media as "Kara Haydar from Van," is expanding its scope. Tançalan's wife, Çağla Öz Tançalan, was apprehended in Istanbul and placed in custody.

The Van Provincial Police Directorate's Public Order Division teams previously conducted a search at a house and its annex in Muradiye district; jewelry and cash that had been pinned on Tançalan's wife during their wedding ceremony were seized. The homeowner, S.A., was also taken into custody.

Çağla Öz Tançalan, who was taken into custody by the Istanbul Police Directorate's Financial Crimes Investigation Department, is expected to be transferred to Van. Tançalan's mother, N.O., whose name appeared in a MASAK report, was previously detained in Istanbul, while Tançalan's relative M.S.T. was detained in Muradiye.

The investigation was launched by the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office following public outcry over footage of large amounts of gold, foreign currency, and Turkish lira on display at the couple's wedding in Van. Tançalan was taken into custody on September 8; the duty magistrate ordered his remand in custody on money laundering charges.