28.04.2025 12:11
The statement of security guard Çağlar Türkmen, who was detained in the second wave of operations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and whose footage of him taping over cameras has emerged, has come to light. Türkmen said, "I taped over the camera footage myself. This decision was made by Ekrem İmamoğlu's security team. Since it is a routine procedure, no one gave me any instructions."
The statement of Çağlar Türkmen, an official detained during the second wave of operations carried out within the scope of the investigation into the "corruption" allegations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), has emerged. The security officer, who came to the agenda with footage showing him turning off the security camera at a five-star hotel in Beşiktaş, provided a 63-page statement during the police interrogation.
"NO ONE GAVE ME INSTRUCTIONS"
According to the news in Milliyet; Türkmen stated that he turned off the cameras because of the previous leak of footage of Ekrem İmamoğlu at a fish restaurant, saying, "Because previously, due to the leak of footage of Ekrem İmamoğlu at a restaurant, the camera footage at places where Ekrem İmamoğlu would go would be recorded over, and the camera would be prevented from capturing images. This decision was made by Ekrem İmamoğlu's security team. Since it is a routine procedure, no one gave me instructions. I recorded over the camera footage myself," he stated.
"THERE WERE JAMMER DEVICES IN THE SUITCASES"
In the hotel exit footage, Türkmen was shown with a person who left with two suitcases. He was asked, "Who is this person? What is inside the suitcases? Who attended the mentioned meeting? Did the person named Ekrem İmamoğlu have any meetings or discussions here? If so, who attended this meeting? Did you participate in these meetings? If you did, do you know what the individuals talked about among themselves and what the topic was?"
Türkmen stated that the person in the footage was himself and that there were jammer devices in the two suitcases he was holding. He said he did not know who was in the meeting, adding, "I do not know if Ekrem İmamoğlu had a meeting here. I did not attend any of Ekrem İmamoğlu's meetings. In every meeting, if deemed necessary, the cameras would be routinely recorded over," he said.
"I DON'T KNOW WHY HE CAME"
Türkmen was also asked about which floors Ekrem İmamoğlu visited in the hotel and who was in the large group accompanying him. Stating that he did not know which floors İmamoğlu visited, Çağlar Türkmen said, "I do not know who or how many people were in the large group accompanying him. I only know the security team. I do not know why Ekrem İmamoğlu came here," he said.