At about 5 a.m. on Wednesday police entered Halk TV's Istanbul headquarters, surrounding the building with barriers, halting live broadcasts and initially keeping journalists and staff from entering. Prosecutors said the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund TMSF was appointed trustee over companies linked to the channel and identified İbrahim Paşalı as the official sent to take control. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued 17 detention warrants in the probe into companies tied to Halk TV chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu and taken 11 people into custody; prosecutors say the investigation involves allegations of bribery, bid-rigging and laundering proceeds of crime. Halk TV's owner Cafer Mahiroğlu denied wrongdoing in a video statement, called the move politically motivated, said several relatives were detained including a 70-year-old brother in Gürün, Sivas, and vowed to recover control. Editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş reportedly refused to cooperate with the trustee and argued the newsroom should keep broadcasting, but the new administration did not allow the existing editorial team to remain in control. Police searches later ended and employees were reportedly allowed back into the building, leaving unresolved who will decide what Halk TV can broadcast and with the channel under state-appointed administration as the criminal probe proceeds.
