Masak Has Revealed Suspicious Money Flows in the Bank Accounts of Journalist Cem Küçük, Including 5 Million Turkish Liras in Transactions

The report found that 35 million 132 thousand lira entered Küçük's accounts between 2019 and 2026, with 5 million 9 thousand 300 lira of that amount coming from 23 individuals and companies. The report noted that transfer descriptions were insufficient and that the money movements were inconsistent with Küçük's financial profile, with some transfers suspected of being payments in exchange for news coverage. According to the report, Küçük's accounts saw 35 million 132 thousand lira in inflows and 7 million 52 thousand lira in outflows during the 2019-2026 period.

Of the total inflow, 14 million 474 thousand lira came from deposit returns or loans, while 8 million 844 thousand lira consisted of salaries and royalty income from various media outlets. The remaining 5 million 9 thousand lira came from 23 individuals and companies. The MASAK analysis stated that the transfers' transaction descriptions were inadequate and inconsistent with Küçük's financial profile, adding that they did not align with the account profile of someone working as a paid employee in journalism.

Some transactions labeled as 'debt' and 'debt repayment' were deemed too frequent and large to be explained by ordinary personal borrowing relationships, and were classified as suspicious and 'requiring explanation. The report also detailed transfers from specific individuals. Murat Surun sent a total of 910 thousand lira to Küçük in 23 separate transactions between April 2025 and July 2026, with no transaction descriptions and an average of about 40 thousand lira per transaction, typically made twice a month.

Tahir Sarıkaya sent 616 thousand lira in 30 separate transactions, also without descriptions. İsmail Çanak, who has an arrest warrant issued against him in the investigation, sent 315 thousand lira in 17 transactions, mostly with descriptions like 'repayment of cash debt. Mustafa Erdem, whose employment record lists him as a waiter, sent 244 thousand lira in 13 transactions, which the report found inconsistent with his social security records.

The report also linked some senders to Küçük's news activities. İrem Turan, recorded as an assistant to Seyfettin Selim, owner of Selim İnşaat, sent 50 thousand lira to Küçük's account. The report noted Küçük had published news favorable to Selim and assessed the 50 thousand lira as a 'payment in exchange for news.

Selim himself transferred 30 thousand lira to Küçük, which the report also suggested could be related to favorable coverage. Additionally, Serdar Cömert, recorded as a driver at Atalay Demirbaş's company Demand İnşaat, sent 40 thousand lira, and Erdinç Uluocak sent 30 thousand lira. The report noted Küçük published positive news about Demirbaş on August 13, 2025, alongside these transfers. In a related development, the mayoral election in Üsküdar Municipality is set to be renewed.