Former driver’s bombshell confession: A television channel was purchased with İBB's money.

05.06.2025 18:32

In the corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), Servet Yıldırım, the driver of the informant Hüseyin Köksal who benefited from the effective remorse provisions, stated that it was agreed to purchase Köksal for 2.5 million Euros upon the instruction of Ekrem İmamoğlu, and that the financing throughout the process was provided by Fatih Keleş through İBB under İmamoğlu's directive.

The investigation into the 'corruption' allegations against suspects, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) following his arrest by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, continues. The charges include 'being a leader of a criminal organization', 'being a member of a criminal organization', 'bribery', 'qualified fraud', 'illegally obtaining personal data', and 'manipulating a tender'.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE INFORMANT DRIVER HAS EMERGED

The testimony of Servet Yıldırım, who was the driver of the detained suspect Hüseyin Köksal, who met with İmamoğlu at a hotel where security cameras were turned off in Istanbul, has been obtained after he was released following his statement under the effective remorse provisions.

"A TELEVISION CHANNEL WAS PURCHASED WITH CULTURE AŞ'S MONEY"

Yıldırım, who stated that he had been Köksal's driver for 15 years, reported that Köksal and İmamoğlu had known each other for about 20 years. In his statement, Yıldırım provided some information regarding the purchase process of Olay TV, stating that the owner of the channel was Cavit Çağlar, and said, "Köksal wanted to buy the channel named Olay TV from Cavit Çağlar at İmamoğlu's instruction. İmamoğlu was to provide the financing for the purchase. Cavit Çağlar and Hüseyin Köksal agreed on a price of 2.5 million Euros for the purchase of Olay TV. The financing for the entire process of the purchase and establishment of the television was provided by Fatih Keleş (the suspect) through IMM at İmamoğlu's instruction. Olay TV was purchased with the money from Culture AŞ. At that time, the general manager of Culture AŞ (the suspect) was Serdar Taşkın. Serdar Taşkın is also aware of the entire process that took place."

"1 MILLION 200 THOUSAND EUROS FOR A FLOOR IN THE PLAZA"

Yıldırım noted that the channel's headquarters was in Bursa at that time, stating, "When Çağlar and Köksal agreed on the purchase, İmamoğlu wanted to move Olay TV's headquarters to BAB Plaza. Subsequently, the first floor of the plaza was purchased for 1 million 200 thousand Euros from a real estate agent whose surname I do not know, but whose name I know as İsmail. The payment for the first floor of the plaza was also provided from the budget of Culture AŞ at İmamoğlu's instruction. Keleş gave this money to Köksal at İmamoğlu's instruction. Köksal then paid the mentioned amount to the real estate agent. The money transfers I mentioned are visible in Köksal's accounts."

"2 MILLION EUROS WERE SPENT ON EQUIPMENT"

After the purchase of the first floor of the plaza, Yıldırım explained that the television channel was equipped with the latest equipment to be able to broadcast, estimating that 2 million Euros were spent for this, and claimed that this financing was also made through Culture AŞ via Keleş at İmamoğlu's instruction.

"WE TOOK THE MONEY IN BAGS, PIECE BY PIECE"

Yıldırım stated that after the equipment transactions were completed, the channel was moved to the plaza in Kağıthane, saying, "After Olay TV started broadcasting in Kağıthane, Çağlar came to Köksal and said he could not transfer the channel. Subsequently, the 2.5 million Euros agreed upon for the sale of Olay TV was returned to Köksal by Çağlar." Yıldırım expressed that Köksal paid part of the 2.5 million Euros in cash to Çağlar when purchasing Olay TV, stating, "Keleş brought the money in cash to Köksal. Köksal personally delivered the cash payments to Çağlar at his office in Levent. During this time, I was driving for Köksal. The money did not go to Çağlar in one go; it was taken in bags piece by piece. I do not know how much money Köksal took to Çağlar in total. The money was placed in bags in the trunk of the car. I also drove for Köksal, and we took the money this way."

"THE REAL OWNER IS İMAMOĞLU"

Yıldırım stated that when the transfer of Olay TV did not take place, the place in the plaza was transferred to Tarih TV, saying, "Tarih TV is currently continuing its activities in this building. As far as I know, Tarih TV received 4.5 million Euros in exchange for the transfer. As I recall, this money was received officially. The 4.5 million Euros received from here was used to purchase a historical building belonging to a firm named S. in Beyoğlu at İmamoğlu's instruction through the Carsal firm (the firm seized in the investigation). The Carsal firm is under Köksal, but it actually belongs to İmamoğlu."

"ENTERED MEDIA AND ADVERTISING BUSINESS AT İMAMOĞLU'S INSTRUCTION"

Yıldırım provided some information regarding the companies established to win advertising tenders, stating that Köksal's real business was textiles and that he entered the media and advertising business at İmamoğlu's instruction.

Yıldırım noted, "When he entered the media business, İmamoğlu told Köksal, 'You will face pressure from the government because you entered the media business. You cannot use credit in the textile business. Therefore, let’s establish two advertising companies for you. You can enter the advertising tenders at the municipality through these companies.' Köksal established companies named Advertcity and Urbanmedia (the companies seized in the investigation). However, Hüseyin Köksal established the companies in the name of his cousin Ahmet Köksal (the suspect). Ahmet Köksal's partner is also Murat Kapki (the suspect). As soon as the companies were established, the advertising tenders of IMM were awarded to these companies. These companies were winning all the pedestrian bridge advertising tenders. If I remember correctly, the annual turnover of the two companies was 1.5 billion lira. When the transfer of Olay TV did not happen, İmamoğlu called Köksal and said that since the media business did not materialize, there was no longer a danger with the government, and that 60% of the money coming from the established advertising companies belonged to İmamoğlu, 20% to Kapki, and 20% to Hüseyin Köksal."

"MONEY FROM THE COMPANIES WAS DISTRIBUTED EVERY 30-40 DAYS"

Yıldırım stated, "The money coming from the companies established to win advertising tenders was distributed every 30-40 days."

This sharing was generally done in cash. The entire portion that belonged to İmamoğlu was not sent to his company; depending on the needs of their companies, Tuncay Yılmaz (suspect) would either take the amount they needed from us through the drivers of their own companies or we would send it through someone from the company. The money coming from the advertising business was brought in cash by Ahmet Köksal to the office of Hüseyin Köksal located in Beylikdüzü," he stated.

"I PERSONALLY TOOK CASH IN SUITCASES AND DELIVERED IT"

Before he left the job, Yıldırım explained that the money coming from the advertising business went to a currency exchange office owned by B. Ö. in Laleli, saying, "The money was taken in cash from the courier of the currency exchange office, Ahmet Köksal, and was taken to the currency exchange office. The money that went to the currency exchange office in lira was converted to dollars and sent to the office of Hüseyin Köksal in Beylikdüzü. Currency types of money were brought to Hüseyin Köksal's office by couriers. This money was kept in steel safes in Hüseyin Köksal's office. When money was needed, Yılmaz, the General Manager of İmamoğlu Construction, would call Hüseyin Köksal. Following this, the currency types of money kept in the steel safe were taken to Yılmaz in cash in suitcases. Under the instruction of Hüseyin Köksal, I personally took cash to Yılmaz in suitcases 5-6 times. During this time, Zafer Keleş (suspect) also brought large amounts of money to Hüseyin Köksal's office many times. He came in different cars most of the time. Each time, about 8-10 suitcases of money were brought. The money brought by Zafer Keleş was sent by Fatih Keleş (suspect). Fatih Keleş is the General Manager of Sports Inc. The money coming from Sports Inc. to Hüseyin Köksal's office was also taken to İmamoğlu Construction as needed. Sometimes, Yılmaz would send people working as drivers at İmamoğlu Construction to get money from Hüseyin Köksal's office," he said.

"AT MEETINGS, IT WAS DISCUSSED WHICH TENDER WOULD BE GIVEN TO WHOM AND HOW THE MONEY WOULD BE RECOVERED"

Yıldırım stated that Hüseyin Köksal rented a room in a hotel in Beşiktaş and used it as an office, saying, "In this office, Hüseyin Köksal, Murat Ongun (suspect), Emrah Bağdatlı (fugitive suspect), and Ahmet Köksal would meet three days a week. In these meetings, it was discussed which tender would be given to whom at what price and how the money would be recovered. They would not want me to stay in the room. No money would ever come here. Under İmamoğlu's instruction, the people I mentioned would gather and discuss the topics I mentioned," he said.

"THE BAG WAS FULL OF DOLLARS AND EUROS"

Yıldırım explained that when İmamoğlu was elected mayor, he appointed Serdal Taşkın to Culture Inc., and he met O. C., Taşkın's driver, because of Taşkın's visit to Hüseyin Köksal. Yıldırım said, "O. C. told me that Taşkın took the money belonging to Culture Inc. to his home, and even deposited some of it into O. C.'s account, and had him buy gold bars and deposit them in safe deposit boxes at banks in Nişantaşı. I told him, 'Withdraw the money he deposited into your account and take it to the prosecutor.' Since Hüseyin Köksal and Taşkın lived in the same area, Taşkın would sometimes call Hüseyin Köksal and say, 'Let's go home together.' Our car was assigned to a member of parliament (the vehicle assigned to CHP Deputy Chairman Özgür Karabat), so it had a siren. For this reason, Taşkın wanted to come with us. When Serdar Taşkın came with us, he always had a bag with him, as his driver described. One day when we entered a gas station, Taşkın and Hüseyin Keskin went to the restroom. During this time, I curiously opened Taşkın's bag. The bag was full of dollars and euros. I think this money belongs to Culture Inc. O. C. said that Taşkın bought two villas and put them in the name of Z. S.," he said.

"MONEY WAS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS AT THE CONGRESS, HOUSES WERE GIVEN FROM KİPTAŞ"

In his statement, Yıldırım addressed the allegations of money distribution at the CHP Congress, saying, "I have no firsthand knowledge regarding the distribution of money at the Congress. However, according to what I heard from Kadir, the driver of Ongun, whose last name I do not know, money was distributed to members at the Congress, and it was mentioned that houses were given from KİPTAŞ," he stated.

"EMRAH BAĞDATLI IS THE MAIN PERSON FROM WHOM ALL THE MONEY WAS COLLECTED AFTER FATİH KELEŞ"

Yıldırım continued his statement as follows: "The structure established by Ekrem İmamoğlu was a very complex relationship. Those at the head of this structure did not interfere with each other's work. I have no information about Ertan Yıldız (suspect) due to the lack of a close relationship with Hüseyin Köksal, but the media-related works were designed under Murat Ongun by Emrah Bağdatlı. Bağdatlı is also an old friend of Hüseyin Köksal. This person established many companies to win tenders and was exporting the tenders he won through fake (dummy) invoices. He is the main person from whom all the money was collected after Fatih Keleş. The irregular funds obtained from Boğaziçi İmar were also going to this person. No transaction could be made at Boğaziçi İmar without his knowledge. They would use this money for both their companies, personal enrichment, and the continuation of the structure they established."

"İMAMOĞLU'S LAWYER CALLED ME A WEEK BEFORE THE OPERATION"

In his statement, Yıldırım said, "About a week before the operation was carried out by your Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan (İmamoğlu's lawyer) called me and said, 'They may call you for a statement; I want you to stand firm. You will do this for your family and children, not for me.' He made a threatening conversation. Until now, although I intended to tell what I know to your Chief Public Prosecutor's Office both in my first statement and during my time in prison, I have not been able to give a statement until now due to being kept under serious surveillance by lawyers in the penal institution. When I expressed that I wanted to change the lawyer assigned to me without my consent, they informed me that such a thing was not possible," he said.