Turkish authorities file criminal complaint over alleged fraud at publicly funded Yunus Emre Institute
Turkish police have detained 18 personnel from the publicly funded Yunus Emre Institute upon a criminal complaint by the Tourism and Culture Ministry over embezzlement allegations. Former president Şeref Ateş, who was dismissed in June, has reportedly fled to Germany.
Duvar English
Turkey’s Directorate General of Foundations, affiliated with the Culture and Tourism Ministry, has filed a criminal complaint over irregularities uncovered at the state-founded Yunus Emre Institute (YEE), according to a Jan. 2 report by online news outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) Türkçe.
In a statement, YEE said the investigation began in July 2024 after its former president, Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş, and related personnel were dismissed in June.
On Dec. 23, 2024, a criminal complaint was filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office based on the findings.
Authorities continue investigating the alleged corruption, and Ateş’s whereabouts remain unknown. Reports suggest he fled abroad.
Prosecutors froze some personnel's assets and requested a detailed report from Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) after the criminal complaint, according to DW Türkçe.
Authorities on Jan. 2 conducted operations, detaining 18 individuals. Ateş, along with several suspects, faces charges of "embezzlement, abuse of trust, contract rigging, forgery, aggravated fraud, and money laundering."
Other suspects included corporate representatives linked to the institute. DW Türkçe reported that Ateş left for Germany three days after his dismissal and has not returned. Officials confirmed his exit and noted that he claimed he was traveling abroad for medical treatment.
Ateş, who spent his youth in Germany and completed his doctorate there, served as YEE’s president since 2016. Transactions conducted under his leadership between 2020 and 2023 are under scrutiny.
Investigators alleged that the institute issued fake invoices for goods and services that were never procured, with fraudulent invoices amounting to $16-17 million. The MASAK report could reveal higher amounts.
Ateş allegedly circumvented procurement laws by dividing large contracts into smaller ones. For instance, instead of announcing a $10 million tender, he reportedly authorized 20 smaller purchases under 500,000-550,000 Turkish liras ($15,000), avoiding legal requirements.
Under 2024 regulations, direct purchases below 622,000 liras did not require tenders. However, inspections revealed that many purchases existed only on paper.
Deputy presidents Rahmi Göktaş, the husband of Family Minister Mahinur Göktaş, and Abdullah Yalçın, the son of the government-ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) official Semih Yalçın, resigned amid the investigation. Both denied involvement in any wrongdoing.
Minister Göktaş stated in a WhatsApp group with female lawmakers that her husband joined YEE in October 2023, after the alleged incidents, and left for another role. She reportedly informed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about the matter.
The YEE statement confirmed the resignations, stating they were voluntary to ensure transparency during the investigation.
Founded in 2009 and funded by public resources, the Yunus Emre Institute operates in 66 countries through 92 offices, offering Turkish language courses and promoting Turkey’s history, language, and culture. Its 2023 budget was reported as 1.3 billion liras ($36.8M).