27.08.2025 05:04
The statement given to the prosecutor by lawyer Mücahit Birinci regarding his meeting with the detained Murat Kapki in prison, as part of the "Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Stock Exchange" investigation, has emerged. In his statement, Birinci said, "I told him that I could not represent him as his lawyer. I did not demand 2 million dollars from him, nor did I make any promise that I could secure his release."
As part of the investigation conducted against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), it was reported that detained businessman Murat Kapki and lawyer Mücahit Birinci had a meeting in prison, and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office obtained permission from the Ministry of Justice to investigate these claims.
BİRİNCİ'S STATUS AS A SUSPECT AND HIS STATEMENT WAS TAKEN
For the aforementioned claims, the Ministry of Justice granted permission for an investigation to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In this context, an ex officio investigation was initiated regarding the allegations. Birinci's statement was taken at the prosecutor's office in his capacity as a 'suspect.'
RELEASED UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL
Lawyer Mücahit Birinci, whose statement was taken by the prosecutor's office, was referred to the Peace Criminal Court with a request for his release under judicial control conditions, including signing at the police station and a travel ban abroad. Birinci was released by the court under judicial control measures.
HIS STATEMENT HAS EMERGED
Mücahit Birinci's statement given at the prosecutor's office has emerged. In his statement, Birinci said: "I have been a lawyer for about 25 years. About a week before the meeting date, a lawyer friend of mine told me that Murat Kapki, who is detained at Tekirdağ No. 1 Closed Penal Institution, wanted to meet with me. I told him that he needed to give me a power of attorney to meet, and that I would not go to the prison for a meeting without a power of attorney.
"I TOLD KAPKİ THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPRESENT HIM"
Upon this, Murat Kapki obtained a power of attorney. On July 31, I went to Tekirdağ No. 1 Closed Prison with my private vehicle. I had a 20-25 minute meeting with Murat Kapki. He explained the charges against him to me, stated that he was in a state of effective remorse but thought he was in the evaluation process. I asked him about his evidence, and he gave me abstract statements regarding the case he was being tried for. Since he kept circling around the issue and could not concretize the matter, I told him that I would not be able to represent him. Additionally, he started to deviate from the subject and talk about different things.
"I DEFINITELY DID NOT REQUEST 2 MILLION DOLLARS"
Birinci continued his statement with the following words: "After the meeting, as I was leaving, he asked me whether I would represent him or not. I told him that it could not be under these conditions. On August 5, Murat Kapki dismissed me. I had already conveyed to Murat Kapki as I was leaving the prison visit that 'you will do what is necessary.' I did not ask him to sign a one-and-a-half-page document as he claimed, nor did I definitely request 2 million dollars from him.
I also did not promise that I could get him released. Murat Kapki gave me a power of attorney, and I went to visit him at the prison in Tekirdağ. As I mentioned at the beginning of my statement, I have been practicing law for 25 years. I try to do my job well. In the mentioned meeting, I tried to fulfill my duty while adhering to professional principles and not exceeding the limits.
I did not ask him for 2 million dollars, as stated by a complainant; it is entirely normal for a lawyer to request a fee from their client. However, we ended the meeting before we reached that stage. I believe that this complaint, which was a routine legal activity, has been turned into a political conspiracy against me. I absolutely do not accept the charges against me."