Thodex cryptocurrency fraud: Red notice for company owner, dozens detained in probe

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Sixty-two people have been detained in a fraud investigation into a cryptocurrency exchange after it has suspended all transactions since April 19.

The founder and CEO of the Thodex company, Faruk Fatih Özer, left Turkey for Albania on April 20.

According to reports on the media, the platform had a monthly trading volume of about 100 billion lira (12 billion USD) and Özer may have robbed cryptocurrencies worth two billion dollars.

Releasing a statement on the company's website, Özer dismissed the reported figures as "implausible" and said he would return to the country in a few days to "cooperate with judicial authorities to reveal the truth."

The company has about 700,000 users, according to his statement.

The İstanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the company for "qualified fraud" and "establishing a criminal organization" and ordered the detention of 78 people.

Conducting simultaneous raids in eight provinces, cybercrime police units detained 62 people and seized digital equipment and documents.

Interpol issued a red notice for Özer today (April 23) after an application from Turkey. Authorities also requested his extradition from Albania.

Photos with ministers

Meanwhile, Özer's photos with Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu have surfaced. In both photos, Özer and ministers are seen with a third person in what appears to be the ministers' offices.

Both ministers said on Twitter that they didn't know Özer and he entered their room through people they know.

Çavuşoğlu and Özer

(HA/VK)