28.06.2026 17:20
Former arrested Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım claimed in his prosecutor statement that a million-dollar helicopter and luxury car search was conducted for Özgür Özel, and that he delivered millions of lira in cash to Özel during the congress process. Yalım said, "In September 2023, I left the money on the garden wall at the entrance gate of Özgür Özel's house. Arrested Uşak Deputy Mayor Halil Arslan was with me."
Özkan Yalım, former detained mayor of Uşak, made striking claims in his additional statement to the prosecutor. Yalım alleged that research was conducted on million-dollar helicopters and luxury official vehicles for Özgür Özel's use, and that cash deliveries worth millions of lira were made to Özel during the congress process.
In his statement taken at the prosecutor's office, various digital message contents and correspondence were individually asked to the detained Özkan Yalım.
Yalım was asked about messages regarding presentation and cost comparison reports of Sikorsky and Agusta type helicopters, with prices ranging from 3.8 to 10 million dollars, sent by a person named "Businessman Hasan Karadağ Southeastern Aviation," which were found in the phone examination report.
"HELICOPTER INSTRUCTION" CLAIM
In his statement, Yalım said: "Regarding the helicopter intended for the use of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Özgür Karabat, the deputy chairman responsible for financial affairs in the party management, contacted me via WhatsApp and asked me to conduct research. I reached Hasan Karadağ, the owner of Southeastern Aviation. Özgür Özel specifically wanted a Sikorsky type. We narrowed the alternatives to three; one was in Turkey, one in Dubai, and one in Germany. Hasan Karadağ came to CHP Headquarters; Özgür Karabat, me, and Hasan Karadağ met on the 4th or 6th floor of the headquarters. A report was to be given to Özgür Özel within two weeks for a decision, but I don't know what happened afterward because I was detained and arrested."
"HE TOLD ME TO LEAVE THE MONEY ON THE WALL"
In his statement, Yalım said: "In September 2023, I left the money on the garden wall at the entrance gate of Özgür Özel's house. Detained Uşak Deputy Mayor Halil Arslan was with me. I called Özel and said I had brought the money. He told me to leave it on the wall next to the entrance gate and return to my car. I did exactly that."
"1 MILLION TL IN A SUITCASE"
Yalım stated: "I delivered the second payment to Özgür Özel through his childhood friend Demirhan Gözaçan, who is his confidant. On October 13, 2023, Özel messaged me on WhatsApp saying 'Özkan, tomorrow put it as a solid package in my suitcase in Denizli.' The next day, when I called, he said 'Handle it with Demirhan.' Near the CHP provincial headquarters in Denizli, I handed over 1 million TL in a dark-colored sports bag to Demirhan Gözaçan."
"AUDI A8 LUXURY VEHICLE OFFERS RECEIVED"
When asked about the documents and price lists in the phone titled "S450d 4 Matic Sample and Vehicle Information Form Maybach," Yalım admitted that he personally conducted the luxury vehicle price research due to having a fleet company, saying:
"Özgür Özel stated that his official Audi A8 was getting old and wanted to buy a new vehicle. Since I have a vehicle fleet registered under my company, I could get better prices. I obtained price quotes from Ankara Koluman company for two luxury-equipped Mercedes S450d (19.5 million TL and 20.2 million TL) and one Mercedes Maybach S580 (31.6 million TL) and conveyed them to the chairman and his driver."
Responding to other WhatsApp messages in the investigation file regarding internal party dynamics and municipal staff, Özkan Yalım said: "Veli Ağbaba sent me names via WhatsApp and asked me to hire them at Uşak Municipality. Additionally, we removed Ulaş Küçükakın, who was responsible for municipal parking lots, from duty after determining he was collecting money from citizens openly to his personal account, and we filed a criminal complaint with the police regarding him."
The suspect's lawyers emphasized that their client is a 56-year-old figure who served as a member of parliament for three terms and as a mayor, stating that the public perception of "he signed the text presented to him" is an insult to the independent judiciary and the defense authority.
They stated that Yalım sincerely described all his claims by specifying place, time, and witnesses, and that he assisted justice, requesting his rightful release, or alternatively, house arrest and release under judicial control if the court decides otherwise.