Info:
Since 2017, Turkey-based Suleyman Sakan, who is affiliated with Turkish firm Atlas Doviz Ticaret A.S., provided millions of U.S. dollars in foreign currency exchange services to Ansar Exchange, including through Turkey-based Atlas Doviz. Suleyman Sakan is an associate of Reza Sakan and UAE-based Sakan General Trading. Since at least 2017, Suleyman Sakan worked with Reza Sakan to expand their business activities to Oman using the Omani financial sector;
Süleyman joinedAtlas Döviz on October 22, 2009 by buying shares from existing partner Ahmet Çetiz, a move that was approved by the Turkish Treasury. On February 2, 2011 Süleyman’s relative Asiye Sakan also became a partner in the firm by a transfer of shares, while Süleyman increased his shares to become the majority stakeholder, effectively taking control of the firm. Since then, fresh capital has been injected into the firm practically every year;
The company was subject to two separate investigations on alleged links to terrorist groups and drug smuggling networks. The Ankara 1st High Criminal Court judge who was overseeing the terrorism cases imposed a lien on the firm’s property on November 26, 2012, and the Ankara 2nd High Criminal Court judge extended the measure on May 10, 2013 and appointed Professor Ömer Özkan as a trustee to oversee the board members’ decisions. At a board meeting held by the trustee on December 25, 2013, Süleyman was fully authorized to represent the company and conduct all business on its behalf with a sweeping mandate, while more capital was injected into the firm;
Atlas’s name was also mentioned in 2013 corruption investigations in Turkey. A whistleblower sent an anonymous email to the Istanbul Police Department on July 18, 2012 stating that Reza Zarrab, an Iranian sanctions buster, had been working with Abdullah Happani in laundering money brought from Iran and northern Iraq. They were using currency exchange houses including Atlas and were connected to terrorist groups and drug networks. The tip prompted prosecutors to launch an investigation into allegations that turned out to be true and uncovered a major graft scheme that extended to then-prime minister and current president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan;
Ansar Exchange conducted currency exchange services for Ansar Bank totaling over one billion dollars. Over the past few years, Ansar Exchange also directly provided MODAFL with the equivalent of approximately 100 million in dollars and euros, in addition to the equivalent of approximately 130 million dollars’ worth of goods and services ultimately destined for the benefit of the IRGC. IRGC is terrorist organization that sponsors, funds, terrorist organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, Taliban;
Persons or entities that engage in transactions with this entity will be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action;
Industry:
Financial Services
Also Known As:
Atlas Doviz Ticaret A.S.
Atlas Doviz
Country:
Turkey
Address:
Tayahatun Mah., Tclar Sok. No: 83, Mercan Kaps-Kapal Car, Eminonu, Istanbul, Turkey
Website:
www.atlasdoviz.com
E-mail:
info@atlasdoviz.com
Person of interests:
Suleyman Sakan