01.06.2026 16:22
In the İBB case, which resumed after a 9-day break, detained advertiser Vedat Şahin made his defense. Denying the accusations, Şahin, when reminded of some of his previous statements during cross-examination, said, "Those were hearsay. I wrote them influenced by news on television and in the press at that time. I no longer want to leave anyone under suspicion."
The hearing of the case in which a total of 414 defendants, including 68 detainees, among them suspended and imprisoned Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, is being tried, is being held by the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court in courtroom No. 1 located within the Marmara Closed Penal Execution Institution campus in Silivri.
HE WITHDREW HIS STATEMENT OF ACTIVE REMORSE
At the hearing, detained advertiser Vedat Şahin made his defense. Şahin had previously withdrawn his statement given under the scope of active remorse. Şahin stated that he is being tried under the indictment within the scope of "Action 78" and "Action 119" on charges of "fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations," "laundering of assets derived from crime," and "membership in an organization," and said he does not accept any of the charges.
Starting his defense by describing his professional background, Şahin stated that he has been operating in the events, stage systems, sound, lighting, and organization sector since 1994, and is the owner of companies named Medyafon and VESA. Şahin explained that his companies provide technical organization services to public institutions, municipalities, private sector organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
"I WAS OFFERED TO BECOME A CONFESSOR, I WAS THREATENED WITH MY WIFE"
Şahin claimed that during the investigation process, he was pressured to "become a confessor." Claiming that some people who visited him in prison told him he could not be released unless he gave certain statements, Şahin argued that some lawyers also mentioned that his wife could be arrested. Şahin, who claimed that some statements he did not make in his testimony to the prosecutor's office were recorded in the minutes, said, "People I didn't know visited me in prison and told me there were various charges against me and that I wouldn't get out of here. They tried to create psychological pressure, especially regarding facing terrorism charges."
Stating that he was told his wife could also be arrested because he was a company official, Şahin further alleged that during his time in prison, people also came to visit who wanted to make financial demands. Şahin, stating that news and rumors about him were conveyed to him, said, "Without even knowing exactly what I was accused of, I tried to defend myself for months."
"WE ONLY RECEIVED THREE TENDERS FROM KÜLTÜR A. Ş."
Şahin, stating that the charges in the indictment were directed due to the work they received through Kültür A. Ş., said they only received three sub-tenders from Kültür A. Ş. Noting that the total value of these tenders was approximately 30 million lira, Şahin claimed that due to the tenders coinciding with the pandemic period, a large part of the work could not be done and they suffered a loss of approximately 16 million lira.
Şahin said, "It is claimed that I caused damage to the public. However, we provided letters of guarantee for these works. We were only able to receive payment of 14 million lira out of approximately 30 million lira worth of work. We incurred losses due to these tenders."
"NO INVOICE WAS ISSUED FOR WORK NOT DONE"
Şahin, explaining that they provided services as subcontractors to some companies that received work from Kültür A. Ş., also denied the "fake invoice" allegations put forward against them. Stating that photographs and documents of all the work they did have been submitted to the file, Şahin said, "There is no work that was not done under any circumstances. The work done has been delivered. The visuals, invoices, and records of the work are present in the file. There is no question of fake or fictitious invoices."
Şahin further stated, "We also took part in the openings of various municipalities, cultural center events, animal shelters, workshops, and similar organizations during the AK Party period. In 2024, we provided services for events such as the opening of cultural centers, libraries, and squares of various institutions, especially Eyüp Municipality. Therefore, our company has commercial relations and work experience not only with IMM, but also with many municipalities, public institutions, and private sector organizations."
REACTION TO ACTIVE REMORSE STATEMENTS
Şahin argued that the individuals who made statements against him did not direct any accusations towards him in their initial statements, but later made accusations in their statements given under the scope of active remorse.
Referring individually to the statements of Kamil Taşçı, Serdar Haydanlı, Ahmet Çiçek, and some other names, Şahin claimed that these individuals made false statements in order to be released. Şahin said, "There are no accusations in the initial statements of these people. Later, to be released, they changed their statements and made claims of fake invoices and money transfers."
Şahin also denied the claims of witness Deniz Dörtyol that he delivered 8 million 450 thousand lira to him, stating that there are only records of two phone calls with this person. Şahin said, "It is claimed that I received millions of lira from someone with whom there are said to be only two phone calls. No such exchange of money took place. This claim is based solely on base station records."
"I HAVE NO COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MURAT ONGUN"
Responding to the charge of membership in an organization, Şahin argued that although Murat Ongun is shown as the manager to whom he is linked in the indictment, he has no commercial relationship with Ongun. Şahin said, "I have known Murat Ongun since 2016, but I have had no commercial relationship. I have never been part of any hierarchical structure. There was no one who could give me orders or instructions."
"I HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR 15 MONTHS, MY FAMILY IS VICTIMIZED"
Şahin, stating that he has been detained for approximately 15 months, requested a review of his detention. Expressing that he has no other source of income, Şahin said that his family and children are victimized due to his detention. Şahin said, "There is no concrete evidence against me in the file. The charges against me are based on abstract statements. I request my release and acquittal at the end of the trial. I also request the removal of the freezes on my personal accounts."
CROSS-EXAMINATION WAS CONDUCTED
Subsequently, Şahin's cross-examination began. The court president reminded Şahin of the statements he gave to the prosecutor's office on June 30 and September 11, 2025, and asked why he was denying these statements in the hearing. Şahin claimed that he gave those statements under the guidance of some lawyers who visited him in prison.
Şahin, stating that the lawyer Mirsad Albayrak, who attended his statements, had previously been the lawyer for Kabil Taşçı, another defendant in the file, said, "They reached me through my wife. At first, I did not accept. However, due to the charges directed at me, I became unable to think clearly and started giving statements under guidance."
The court president asked whether the invoices and various documents submitted to the file during the active remorse statements were also prepared within the scope of guidance. Şahin argued that the documents in question were real documents related to his commercial activities, but the statements were fabricated within the framework of active remorse.
"THESE WERE HEARSAY, MY CURRENT STATEMENTS ARE VALID"
When the court president reminded Şahin of the detailed statements made by Kahraman Yeşilyurt on September 11, 2025, regarding his overseas assets and certain money transfers, Şahin stated that this information was not based on his own observation. Şahin said, "These were hearsay. I wrote them influenced by reports on television and in the press at that time. I no longer wish to cast suspicion on anyone. My current statements are valid."
During the hearing, the prosecutor asked Şahin questions about invoices issued between certain companies in the file. Şahin stated that all delivery notes and invoices related to commercial transactions between RESTA Event and Haydanoğlu companies had been submitted to the file.
QUESTIONED ABOUT MONEY TRANSFERS
When the prosecutor asked about money transfers with Serdal Taşkın, former General Manager of Kültür A. Ş., Şahin noted that he had approximately a 20-year friendship with Taşkın and argued that the money movements in question stemmed from commercial debt-credit relationships. Şahin said, "All money movements are present in bank records. There was no cash exchange."
Regarding questions about services received from a company named Karbonat Reklam, Şahin stated that during the pandemic, they outsourced some event tasks they could not handle to subcontractor firms, and Karbonat provided services in this context.
When the prosecutor asked about relationships between Emrah Bağdatlı and certain companies, Şahin stated that his knowledge on this matter was not based on personal observation but on information he heard in the industry, saying, "It's not something I witnessed; these were things I heard from the market."