Türkiye has arrested seven people including a former central bank deputy governor and executives at the Interbank Card Centre (BKM) under an investigation into alleged irregularities in tenders, a state prosecutor's office said on Friday.
The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said its probe focused on irregularities in public tenders conducted by BKM, a key institution in Türkiye's payment systems, in which the central bank is the main shareholder, Reuters reported.
Those now in custody include former central bank deputy governor Emrah Sener and a former BKM general manager, the prosecutor's statement said, adding that detention warrants were requested for four further suspects abroad.
Broadcaster Halk TV, which first reported the investigation, said Sener had denied involvement in such tenders.
"I have no connection to the tenders or transactions conducted at the BKM," Halk TV quoted Sener as telling an Istanbul court during the arrest process.
The Turkish central bank (CBRT) said it carried out an audit of the BKM in 2024 and as this triggered suspicions of an offence the bank filed a criminal complaint to the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office in December.
"The CBRT and the BKM are meticulously monitoring the ongoing judicial proceedings pertaining to the matter," the central bank said in a statement on Friday.
Prosecutors allege that the suspects rigged bids, embezzled funds and committed fraud, resulting in public losses exceeding 100 million lira ($2.4 million), according to Halk TV.
