business

Ozkan attempts to refute accusations

Ana Rentería/ LA PRENSA

Pending: Ozkan was granted permission to open a Princess casino at the Four Points hotel.1026074

Turkish businessman Sudi Ozkan, whose permission to open a casino in the Four Points hotel in Panama has generated controversy, broke his silence yesterday over accusations that he may be guilty of tax evasion, money laundering, and trafficking in contraband.

Ozkan claimed that all the information his critics discovered about him on the internet is false and that the proof lies in his continued operation of casinos in 11 different countries and in a report from the Consejo de Seguridad de Panamá which makes no mention of his connection to criminal activity.

Regarding allegations made by the Asociación de Administradores de Juegos de Azar (Asaja), Ozkan said that they are "baseless, false insinuations." Asaja asserts that the process that granted Ozkan permission to open a casino at the Four Points was neither transparent nor without irregularities

Ozkan also revealed that he has invested $50 million in real estate in Panama, not including the casino, the possible purchase of the Four Points and the construction of a five-star hotel on Avenida Balboa.