Türkiye detains 14 more suspects in widening probe into stock market manipulation

ISTANBUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities detained 14 more suspects on Tuesday in a new wave of operations targeting alleged stock market manipulation, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced.

The synchronized raids, carried out in Istanbul and the western province of Aydin, targeted 15 people. One suspect was found to be abroad, Gurlek said in a statement.

The operations followed the detection of suspected market manipulation by Türkiye's Capital Markets Board involving Katilimevim Tasarruf Finansman, a savings-finance company, as well as Destek Holding and Hedef Holding.

Gurlek said four suspects had been arrested by a court, while others remained in police custody or were still at large.

The minister said authorities were also examining the financial aspects of the case to trace the proceeds of alleged crimes.

"All judicial and financial measures are being effectively taken to uncover the illicit gains, prevent the smuggling of assets, and protect the rights of our victimized citizens," Gurlek said, adding that anyone found legally responsible would be brought to justice.

The widening probe followed a sharp sell-off on Borsa Istanbul last week, when the benchmark BIST 100 index plunged more than 7.5 percent at one point on Wednesday, sparking concerns over market stability.