03.06.2026 12:50
Suspended Usak Mayor Ozkan Yalim gave an additional statement within the scope of effective remorse in the investigation into the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress. Yalim, who claimed that some delegates were persuaded to vote for Ozgur Ozel with promises of hiring their relatives, requested an examination of the delegates' SGK records. In his statement, Yalim also shared the message Ozgur Ozel sent him, "Put it in the blue suitcase," and alleged that he personally handed over 1 million TL to Ozel for congress expenses.
Özkan Yalım, the mayor of Uşak who was arrested as part of a corruption investigation and suspended by the Ministry of Interior, gave an additional statement under the effective remorse provision in the investigation into the 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP. In the investigation conducted simultaneously by the Ankara and Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutors' Offices, Yalım claimed that delegates were persuaded with "promises of employment" and shared details of the "blue suitcase" message exchange between himself and Özgür Özel.
PROMISE OF "HIRING RELATIVES" Özkan Yalım stated that during the congress process, he visited over 40 provinces and spoke with 700 delegates to secure votes for Özgür Özel, alleging that some delegates requested that their children be hired by certain municipalities. In his statement, Yalım made the following claims: "These requests from delegates were communicated by CHP MPs, and some requests for hiring delegates' children were fulfilled. This can be verified directly from the records. If checked, the accuracy of my statements will be evident. I convinced 115 delegates to vote for Özgür Özel. The delegates signed papers stating 'I will vote for Özgür Özel.' I delivered all these collected papers to Selin Sayek Böke. I am 100% sure of the accuracy of my statements; base records can be examined."
Özkan Yalım was caught in a hotel room with a 21-year-old municipal employee SGK AND BANK RECORDS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED Following Özkan Yalım's claims, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office acted swiftly. In recent days, two official letters were sent to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and the Social Security Institution (SGK). The letter requested a thorough examination of the SGK records and bank account transactions of all delegates who voted during the congress process and their first-degree relatives.
"BLUE SUITCASE" ALSO QUESTIONED One of the most striking parts of the additional statement was the claim about the "delivery of 1 million TL with a suitcase," which had previously been mentioned in earlier statements. In the statement, the alleged exchange of messages between Özgür Özel and Özkan Yalım on October 13, 2023, was questioned by the prosecutor's office. The message allegedly sent by Özgür Özel to Yalım read, "Özkan, tomorrow, put it in the blue suitcase in my car in Denizli as a solid package." Stating that it was clear the message was directly sent by Özgür Özel, Yalım stated, "I indeed gave 1 million TL to Özgür Özel and delivered the money to him. Özgür Özel said he would use the money for expenses incurred during the congress processes."
EYES ON FUTURE REPORTS As the process continues at full speed, Özkan Yalım's lawyer has requested a non-prosecution decision for his client. It is eagerly awaited how the prosecutor's office will steer the investigation following the official reports to be received from SGK and MASAK.