31.07.2025 15:59
A.A.Ö., who is on trial for an import case in Istanbul, claimed that the appointed expert Z.T. demanded a bribe of 10,000 dollars from him and threatened him. A.A.Ö. recorded the moment of the bribe on video and filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office. The chief prosecutor's office has launched an investigation against the expert.
A.A.Ö., which has been engaged in import and export for many years abroad, filed a criminal complaint with the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, claiming that the expert assigned to his case demanded a bribe from him while he was being tried in a customs investigation conducted in Istanbul.
"IF I WRITE A NEGATIVE REPORT..."
According to A.A.Ö., the expert Z.T. called him on May 29, saying he wanted to discuss the case. In a conversation between the parties that took place on June 11 in Büyükçekmece, it was alleged that Z.T. threatened, "If I write a negative report, you will receive a hefty fine, and you will never be able to work in customs again. It doesn't matter whether you are guilty or not; what matters is what I say." It was also noted that Z.T. was serving on the influential board of the Istanbul Customs Brokers Association.
"I DELIVERED AN ENVELOPE CONTAINING 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS"
A.A.Ö. stated that under the pressure of the expert, he went to the location sent to him on the evening of June 13 and recorded the moment the incident occurred with his mobile phone camera, saying, "When I arrived, I saw that the person had parked his vehicle. I also parked my vehicle behind it. I handed the envelope containing 10 thousand dollars to the expert who came to the vehicle. I recorded those moments on video." The video in question was presented to the prosecutor's office as evidence, along with images of the moment the bribe was given.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION
According to a report in Sözcü, A.A.Ö. filed a complaint against Z.T. for abuse of duty, obtaining benefits, threats, and bribery. Stating that he did not want to bear the pressure of the incident any longer, A.A.Ö. officially applied on July 30, taking the process to the judiciary. The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation regarding the allegations. It is expected that Z.T. will be removed from his expert duties and that the incident will be taken to the judicial process.