Cem Uzan

From 2017, the TMSF sought to enforce Turkish decisions in France and seize assets attributed to Cem Uzan. French decisions initially restricted or overturned certain seizure measures, particularly in 2018. Litigation continued, and in February 2026 the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge by the Uzan family in proceedings allowing recognition and enforcement of a Turkish judgment in France.

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Directly implicated

Cem Uzan and members of his family brought an action in France seeking approximately 68 billion dollars in damages from entities linked to the seizure of their former assets in Turkey. After several years of proceedings, the Paris Judicial Court dismissed the claim in March 2026, with reports citing lack of jurisdiction.

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Directly implicated

Following the state's takeover of ÇEAŞ and Kepez in June 2003, Cem Uzan delivered an extremely hostile speech in Bursa targeting Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, using terms translated as "deceitful", "insolent" and "impious". Criminal proceedings resulted in a prison sentence and fine in 2010, upheld by the Court of Cassation. In 2018, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the sanction violated Uzan's freedom of expression and that the length of the proceedings violated his right to trial within a reasonable time.

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Personally implicated

In March 2013, Istanbul's 8th Criminal Court sentenced Cem Uzan to 18 years, 5 months and 20 days' imprisonment for aggravated banking embezzlement in the İmarbank case, together with a very substantial fine and a restitution order. Later reports indicate that the Court of Cassation upheld the sentence in 2015.

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Directly implicated

Libananco Holdings, a company acquired for Cem Uzan and his family according to the arbitration record, initiated ICSID arbitration against Turkey following the seizure of ÇEAŞ and Kepez and cancellation of electricity concessions. The tribunal declined jurisdiction in 2011 and dismissed the claims; the annulment proceedings subsequently failed.

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In February 2011, a Küçükçekmece court sentenced Cem Uzan to three and a half years' imprisonment for breach of trust after approximately 3.5 million Telsim prepaid cards were discovered in hidden compartments at his Beykoz residence.

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Directly implicated

In April 2010, Istanbul's 7th Criminal Court sentenced Cem Uzan to a total of 23 years' imprisonment and a fine for establishing and leading a criminal organisation, document forgery and aggravated fraud in a case linked to the concealment of assets and shareholdings.

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Directly implicated

In July 2010, the Küçükçekmece criminal court sentenced Cem Uzan and four other defendants to two years and six months' imprisonment for violating tax legislation.

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Directly implicated

US courts found that Cem Uzan and members of his family had participated in a fraudulent scheme involving several billion dollars in financing provided to Telsim by Motorola and Nokia. The proceedings resulted in massive damages awards and multiple enforcement measures.

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Accused

In October 2009, Cem Uzan was sentenced to one year and eight months' imprisonment for occupying forest land linked to his farm in the village of Bakacak in Pamukova, according to judicial summaries in the Turkish press.

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Directly implicated

In November 2009, Cem Uzan was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for allegedly instigating an operation at his former Pamukova farm constituting unlawful deprivation of liberty, according to the reported judgment.

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Directly implicated

Cem and Hakan Uzan had signed contracts for luxury apartments at Trump World Tower, paying a deposit of approximately 8 million dollars. After 11 September, they refused to complete the purchases and sought a refund. In 2004, a New York appeals court upheld the developer's right to retain the deposit stipulated in the contracts.

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Directly implicated

In the Motorola litigation, an English court found Cem Uzan in contempt of court after he refused to appear for cross-examination about his asset declarations despite multiple orders. It sentenced him to fifteen months' detention.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Accused