The Trump Soho ownership team should probably just take the hint and stay away from boats forever. First the Sapir Organization's Tamir Sapir got into trouble over all those endangered animal parts he keeps on his yacht ("Mystere"), later pleading guilty and paying $150,000 in fines. Though, we can't really blame him for his actions. Now the founder of the Bayrock Group, Tevfik Arif, has been detained in Turkey along with nine other people for setting businessmen up with Eastern European "models" aboard a $60 million yacht. Shouldn't he have just directed them to the Trump Soho tubs?
Prosecutors say the vessel, the Savarona, was twice used as a brothel-at-sea, with the clients paying $3,000 to $10,000 per night for action. Arif's lawyer denies the charges, calling this a "smear campaign." A source told the Daily News that Donald Trump hasn't spoken to Arif "in years," which must mean the Trump Soho launch event back in 2007, seen in the photo above. This is the most interesting scandal to hit the Bayrock Group since an executive was accused of being an international black-market arms dealer. Stay classy, Trump Soho!
UPDATE: Arif's legal reps have written in to let us know that Arif was acquitted of charges in Turkey's Antalya High Criminal Court in April 2011.
· Donald Trump pal Tevfik Arif busted in Turkey for allegedly running hooker ring aboard yacht [NYDN]
· Trump Soho coverage [Curbed]
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