04.08.2026 18:00
The statement given by the arrested and dismissed Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu, as part of the 'corruption' investigation against Etimesgut Municipality, has emerged from a drug investigation conducted in Ankara in 2014. In this statement, Beşikçioğlu admitted to using marijuana, expressed regret, and said he would never use it again. On the other hand, within the ongoing investigation, Beşikçioğlu's drug test also came back positive.
Within the scope of the corruption investigation conducted by the Ankara Western Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Etimesgut Municipality, 40 suspects, including Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu, were arrested.
DRUG TEST CAME OUT POSITIVE
It was learned that the drug test came out positive as a result of samples taken from Beşikçioğlu, who was suspended from duty by the Ministry of Interior.
On the other hand, it was learned that Erdal Beşikçioğlu's name was mentioned in a "drug" investigation carried out in Ankara in 2014.
GAVE A STATEMENT IN A "DRUG" INVESTIGATION 12 YEARS AGO
Beşikçioğlu's statement given 12 years ago at the Anti-Narcotics Branch Directorate in Ankara has emerged.
In his statement, Beşikçioğlu confessed to using mar*juana. Arguing that he never bought drugs with money, Beşikçioğlu said he used mar*juana upon the offer of friends in the environments he was in.
Stating in his statement that he worked as a permanent actor-artist of the state theaters, Beşikçioğlu also declared that he made his living by acting in movies and TV series. Stating in his statement that his father was retired and his mother was a housewife, Beşikçioğlu said he was married and had two children. Noting that he had no criminal record for any crime, Erdal Beşikçioğlu stated that he had no receivables-payables issues or hostility with anyone.
"I USED MAR*JUANA"
Confessing to using drugs, Beşikçioğlu said in his statement here, "I have been using mar*juana, one of the drugs, intermittently for about 2-3 years. I first used mar*juana as a result of it being offered in a friend environment whose names I do not remember now. Since I used the mar*juana I first used in a friend environment whose names I do not remember, I do not know who brought this mar*juana I used and who it belonged to. As I said, since it was offered, I took a puff or two. I later used mar*juana always as a result of it being offered in friend environments. I never bought drugs with money" he said.
"I AM NOT A DRUG ADDICT"
Confessing that he last used drugs about a month or two before the said statement, Beşikçioğlu said, "I last used it about a month or two ago because it was offered in a friend environment whose names I do not remember now. As I said, I always used mar*juana because it was offered in friend environments. I am not addicted to mar*juana; as I said, I smoked mar*juana at long intervals when the opportunity arose" he said.
"I WAS CALLED BY THE POLICE AND SUMMONED TO THE POLICE STATION"
Asked to explain how he was caught, Erdal Beşikçioğlu said that while he was on the set of the movie "Fakat Müzeyyen Bu Derin Bir Tutku" in Istanbul, he was called by the police on his mobile phone and summoned to the police station.
Beşikçioğlu continued, "They said I needed to come to the Ankara Police Department Anti-Narcotics Branch to give a statement; so I came to Ankara by plane on the evening of June 10, 2014, and came to the Anti-Narcotics Branch. When I came here, I was informed about the issue and became aware of it" he said.
"I REGRET USING MAR*JUANA, I WILL NOT USE IT AGAIN"
Finally asked if he had anything else to say, Beşikçioğlu concluded his statement with these words:
"As I told you above, I used mar*juana as a result of it being offered in environments whose names I do not remember now. I absolutely never bought drugs in my life. As I said, I used mar*juana occasionally because it was offered and I could not refuse. But I am definitely not addicted to mar*juana or any other drug.
As you know, I am a movie and TV series actor, a well-known person in society, so when I go out, I take Salih Tolga Tosun with me, because people who approach me and want to talk to me or take pictures have sometimes had inappropriate behavior and insults towards me. Therefore, Salih Tolga Tosun is usually with me. My aim is to ensure my personal protection and to handle some of my private affairs that I cannot handle myself through Salih Tolga Tosun.
I regret using mar*juana, even though it was unintentional, and I will not use it again. As I said, since I am not addicted to mar*juana, I will quit on my own will and I do not want treatment for this. That is all I have to say."
ALLEGATIONS AND ACCUSATIONS
A large-scale investigation was launched regarding the allegations of tender irregularities, forgery of official documents, parking lot rentals, and obtaining undue benefits in zoning and license procedures at Etimesgut Municipality.
In the operation organized based on Court of Accounts reports, CIMER applications, COMPLAINANT statements, MASAK and HTS analyses, and audio and video recordings, a total of 55 suspects, 42 of whom were municipal personnel and 13 company officials, were detained.
Among the suspects referred to the courthouse, 40 people, including Etimesgut Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu, were arrested, while judicial control measures were imposed on 4 suspects.