An İstanbul court jailed journalist Murat Ağırel and 14 others pending trial in a money laundering investigation involving relatives of opposition lawmaker Mustafa Sarıgül, according to the DHA news agency. Sarıgül’s son Ömer and his former wife, politician Aylin Kotil, were among those detained. Two other suspects were released under judicial supervision after 17 people appeared before prosecutors and a judge. Ağırel was detained at his home on Friday while already under house arrest in a separate case connected to his reporting on Turkey’s investment fund scandal. Although the money laundering probe focused on suspected laundering activity, he was jailed on suspicion of aiding a criminal organization without being a member. The investigation began after two German nationals alleged that companies in Turkey and abroad were used to move large sums of money with unclear origins. Their complaint cited transactions worth tens of millions of euros, and alleged a promise to transfer €1 billion abroad through a loan secured using political influence. Prosecutors said statements, recordings and other evidence formed the basis for the detention orders. The complainants also alleged that they had supplied Ağırel with information and documents and were later threatened after the material reached people implicated in the allegations. Ağırel denied passing documents to the Sarıgül family, saying he had told his source he would verify the material and put the allegations to those concerned. Mustafa Sarıgül denied wrongdoing, describing the matter as a commercial dispute and questioning the authenticity of the complainants’ documents. Prosecutors said allegations concerning the lawmaker would be referred to Ankara for separate consideration. Ağırel’s investigation was still underway when he was detained. The separate investment fund scandal case has Ağırel and fellow journalist İsmail Saymaz under house arrest, while journalists Şaban Sevinç and Mustafa Balcı are jailed pending trial, after accusations of publicly disseminating misleading information. The money laundering case moves forward with Ağırel and the other 14 suspects held pending trial.