08.07.2025 09:50
In the investigation of the Manavgat Municipality, the CHP had assigned two experts to examine the bribery footage found in a baklava box. Özgür Özel shared the initial information received from these experts during a live broadcast. Özel stated, "If the mayors who have been arrested took bribes, may God curse them! The news I am receiving right now is not encouraging. It seems likely that they have taken bribes."
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In an operation against bribery, extortion, and embezzlement targeting the Manavgat Municipality in Antalya, 6 out of 34 suspects, including Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara and the deputy mayors, were arrested after being referred to the courthouse.
The Peace Criminal Court decided to arrest municipal council member Mehmet Tosak for "embezzlement," Mesut Kara for "receiving bribes," İlker Günay for "embezzlement," Mehmet Ali Fansa for "extortion by coercion," and Kemal Taş and Şükrü Ilgın for "giving bribes." It was learned that the procedures for the other suspects at the police station are ongoing.
EUROS FOUND IN A BAKLAVA BOX
As part of the investigation, images emerged showing Deputy Mayor M.E.T receiving a bribe from a person named C.C. It was reported that C.C. applied to the police after being asked for a bribe for a license, and after the tip-off, he went to M.E.T's office with marked money in coordination with the police teams and handed over the bribe, after which the police conducted a raid.
BRIBERY MOMENTS CAPTURED ON CAMERA
In the footage, C.C. is heard giving a bag to Deputy Mayor M.E.T from beside a coffee table, saying, "And there’s also this thing here, bro. The thing underneath." In the footage, when M.E.T asks, "How much is there?" C.C. replies, "Bro, we found something worth over 100 million. 110 thousand euros." M.E.T then responds, "Okay, don’t say anything to anyone." C.C. replies, "No, no, bro, how could that be?"
"I DIDN'T OPEN IT"
After a while, teams from the Smuggling and Organized Crime Department entered the room and carried out the arrest procedure on M.E.T. When asked by the teams what was in the bag in the room, M.E.T said, "My friend came from abroad. He brought alcohol and chocolate." The police asked him to open the baklava box in the bag. In the footage, euros are seen in the baklava box that M.E.T opened. When the police asked, "Did you receive this as baklava? What are these?" M.E.T initially did not respond, then said, "My friend said he brought a gift, he left it and went. I didn’t open it. I don’t know."
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL HAD INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION
Following these images, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel announced that they had initiated an investigation and would not compromise on any negativity that undermines clean municipal governance, stating, "Immediately, 2 investigators have been assigned within our party regarding the images related to the investigation targeting our Antalya Manavgat Municipality that surfaced on social media. As a result of the investigations, there should be no doubt that any negativity undermining the clean understanding of the Republican People's Party will be approached in the most uncompromising manner. Our stance is clear."
FIRST INVESTIGATION RESULT ON BRIBERY FOOTAGE: NOT UPLIFTING
Özel, in a live broadcast on Halk TV last night, stated, "Manavgat is actually like litmus paper. When the first footage came out, they said, 'It could be edited, it looks like it was placed there by hand. The person opening it doesn’t even tremble, how could baklava come out?' That’s why there is a need for an investigator. But I saw the footage. Boiling water was poured over my head. If those images turn out to be edited, of course, we will stand by our friend, that’s a different matter. But if those images are real, may God punish him a thousand times. Because this party, as it heads towards one of the most critical elections in the history of the Republic in the 2nd century of the Republic, has won all municipalities, and if we manage these municipalities well, they will give us the key to the country. It is impossible to forgive someone who engages in such an act, forgetting about their own honor and the honor of their family, while playing with the future of the party. It is that clear. But of course, there is still a presumption of innocence. He needs to defend himself. I have assigned two investigators. There is some information. It is not uplifting. The likelihood of having received a bribe seems high."
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