Turkey seizes Halk TV, halts live broadcasts in Istanbul raid
What's new: Prosecutors sought 17 people and detained 11 in a probe tied to owner Cafer Mahiroglu and alleged financial crimes.
Turkish authorities appointed a government trustee to run opposition-linked broadcaster Halk TV after police raided its Istanbul headquarters early Wednesday, cutting off the channel's live programming. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office said its financial crimes unit was investigating Halk TV Chairman Cafer Mahiroglu over alleged bribery, tender-rigging and laundering assets derived from crime. Prosecutors issued detention orders for 17 people, including Mahiroglu, and said 11 had been detained. Firms in which Mahiroglu is a partner or administrator were also seized, with the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, or TMSF, installed as trustee. Halk TV said police blocked entry to its building during the search.