Gökalp İçer, chair of cryptocurrency exchange platform ICRYPEX, was arrested on charges of drug trafficking and attempted murder.
On July 14, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into İçer, who is suspected of supplying drugs to 27-year-old Göksu Çelebi, who was hospitalized for drug use and later died.
According to reports, İçer and his girlfriend, a young lawyer, took drugs together.
Meanwhile, İçer was also accused of sending criminal gains overseas.
The bank accounts, electronic currency assets, real estate, cars, and company shares of İçer and Icrypex Crypto Asset Trading Platform Inc. were confiscated on the basis of this accusation.
ICRYPEX is a sponsor of journalist Fatih Altaylı's YouTube channel, one of the most-followed and most-watched channels in Turkey. Altaylı has been under arrest since June 21 for threatening President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
After Altaylı's detention, YouTube channel Onlar TV, a group of five journalists who share the same studios with him, distanced itself from ICRYPEX, stating that it has sponsored only two or three programs so far and that they cannot be held accountable for the private life of a company owner.
Meanwhile, Altaylı, who has been in detention since June 22, will appear before a judge on Oct. 3 after the indictment has been completed. He is charged with “threatening the president” and faces a prison sentence of no less than five years.
