27.08.2026 10:31
In the IMM case, Bayram Yildirim, the driver of one of the suspects released pending trial, Ertan Yildiz, described the incident of delivering the boxes. Yildirim said, 'The prosecutor's office asked me who the money went to, and I gave the names of Fatih Keles, Murat Ongun, and Kadriye Kasapoglu. I told the prosecutor, "I think the money goes to them." I told the prosecutor's office that there were crates and money.'
At the 70th hearing of the case regarding the "Imamoglu criminal organization for profit," in which 414 defendants, 53 of them detained, are being tried at the Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court, the defenses of some non-detained defendants were taken.
At the hearing held in the hall opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution, Bayram Yildirim, the non-detained defendant who is the driver of Ertan Yildiz, who made his defense, said that his statement of effective remorse given to the prosecutor's office was valid.
Yildirim stated that he started working as Ertan Yildiz's driver at IMM in 2019, that he dealt with driving, house and private affairs, and that while doing the assigned tasks, he was not in a position to question "Why are we doing this?"
NAMES TO WHOM THE MONEY WENT Defendant Bayram Yildirim said, "The prosecutor's office asked me who the money went to, and I gave the names of Fatih Keles, Murat Ongun and Kadriye Kasapoglu. I told the prosecutor, 'I think the money goes to them.' I told the prosecutor's office that 'there were safes and money.' I request my acquittal. When Ertan Yildiz entered prison, I, as his driver, emptied his room. While collecting his belongings, I saw market cards in a drawer. I took them and brought them to the police. They claim that I lied and that the cards were not in the room. Where else would I find those cards if not in the room?" he said.
Ekrem Imamoglu (left), Murat Ongun (right) "HE TOLD ME TO GIVE THE PACKAGE AND SEND IT TO IBRAHIM OZKAN" Defendant Yildirim said, "Because I was an IMM employee, there were instructions like 'Leave this here.' That day, he gave me a package. He said, 'Go to Bakirkoy Municipality, call Ibrahim Ozkan's driver and deliver it there.' I went to the municipality and called the driver. He asked what was inside. Since the box was open, I said, 'There are phones and tablets.' Mustafa looked at the package and said, 'How are these possible, we don't have them.' I said, 'I don't know what they will be used for. Ertan Bey only asked me to send them to Ibrahim Ozkan.' When I was arrested, Ertan Bey told me, 'I will take care of you. I will take care of your family, I will hire 3 lawyers. I will get you out.' The lawyer he sent was initially his own lawyer. The prosecutor understood, and the lawyer also told me, 'You will be released, you will get out.' I wanted to tell what I saw, but then I was arrested. After being arrested, I said, 'I want to benefit from effective remorse. I wanted to tell what I know, but I was prevented.' That's the whole situation, sir."
Ekrem Imamoglu (left), Fatih Keles (right) ADEM SOYTEKIN'S DRIVER SPOKE Adem Soytekin's driver, retired police officer Murat Erenler, also stated that after retiring in 2018, he started working with Soytekin because he could not make ends meet with his retirement pension.
Erenler stated that he served as a board member in Soytekin's company, and that since Soytekin occasionally received threats, they often traveled together, even though this was not reflected in the judicial authorities.
Erenler, who stated that the reason for his arrest was the secret witness's statement about him, "If Adem hides money somewhere, only he knows," and that he gave money of an unknown amount to Ali Kurt on behalf of Soytekin, noted that Kurt and Soytekin had good relations and that he did not know this money was a bribe.
Kadriye Kasapoglu "I COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS A BRIBE" Defendant Erenler continued as follows:
"I couldn't have known whether this was a bribe or a debt. I have no interest in this transaction. I am an employee. I have no career plans at IMM or in any party, nor am I a partner of Adem Soytekin. I was not with a man I consider wrong, but what I experienced was not easy either. After Adem was released, I met with him. I asked him for an account openly. I am someone who has received state discipline and had a professional life full of great hardships. He said, 'He had a serious receivable inside, he couldn't collect it, he had to do this to get it, and even because Ali Kurt knew me too, he wanted me to deliver the money.' If I had known this was bribe money, I would not have delivered it."
77 NON-DETAINED DEFENDANTS MADE THEIR DEFENSES The hearing, which lasted approximately 15 hours and where 18 non-detained defendants and their lawyers were heard, was adjourned to continue taking defenses.
Meanwhile, a total of 77 non-detained defendants had their defenses taken.