Caretakers seize Gülen-linked Kaynak Holding

Caretakers have forcibly taken over companies belonging to Kaynak Holding due to alleged ties with U.S.-based scholar Fethullah Gülen, a former government ally now considered the head of the "Fethullahist Terror Organization" (FETÖ).

A total of seven administrative caretakers were appointed to 19 companies, a foundation and an association of Kaynak Holding based on a decision by the Anatolia 10th Penal Court of Peace in Istanbul's Kartal district, as reported by Anadolu Agency. 

The monthly salary of a caretaker will be around 105,000 Turkish Liras ($36,650), so the appointed seven caretakers will cost around 735,000 liras to the business group, as reported by Cihan News Agency. 

The court decided on Sept. 8 that further documentation investigation was needed in line with a criminal investigation run by the Anadolu Public Prosecutor's Office, which alleged that Kaynak Holding has been involved in the activities of the "FETÖ/Parallel State Structure (PDY)" led by Gülen, the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) ally-turned-nemesis, as well as money laundering, tax evasion and terrorism financing. 

After a detailed review of the seized documents, financial books and digital records, the experts claimed they found proof which showed the mobilization of financing by these companies to the FETÖ-PDY in a preliminary report, according to court files, which were reported by Anadolu Agency.

The court then decided the appointment of administrative caretakers to the business group to "be able to collect the proof in a healthier manner and to prevent any destruction [of the] proof." 

Caretakers begin service

Caretakers took over the holding's company buildings on Nov. 18 in Istanbul's Üsküdar, Ba?c?lar and Bayrampa?a...