03.02.2026 14:52
Ali Rıza Yılmaz, the detained Deputy Mayor of Beşiktaş, who is defending himself in the case of the 'Aziz İhsan Aktaş criminal organization', stated that he has been unjustly detained for 10 months, saying, "The experts know that I did not commit a crime. They report this to the prosecutor's office regarding four different tenders. The prosecutor's office absolutely does not take this into account. I am very curious about the reason for this. I have been declared guilty in advance. The accusers blamed me to save themselves."
The case of the "Aziz İhsan Aktaş criminal organization," which is alleged to have organized tender processes by bribing mayors and is claimed to be led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, continues into its second week. The defenses of the 20 detained defendants were completed in the first week. During the hearing, detained defendant Ali Rıza Yılmaz, who was suspended from his position as the Deputy Mayor of Beşiktaş, made his defense.
"MY LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT FIGHTING AGAINST CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS"
Detained defendant Ali Rıza Yılmaz stated, "I am the political deputy mayor of Beşiktaş Municipality. I have fought throughout my life to hold on to life. I am 70 years old; my life has been spent fighting against criminal organizations and gangs. I have paid serious prices for this. I continue to pay prices. I want this to be known especially. I was elected as a council member in Beşiktaş Municipality in 2019. Our Mayor Rıza Akpolat appointed me as the deputy mayor. In this appointment, I was not only responsible for the support services department. There were 6-7 departments under my responsibility. I will have opinions regarding an indictment that was prepared unfairly, unjustly, and unlawfully, in a one-sided manner. I have been waiting for this day for 10 months; I have been detained for 10 months. I was detained unfairly, unlawfully, and unjustly. Our management understanding is a local governance approach that is participatory, transparent, accountable, and considers the public interest and benefit. Because local governments are the cradle of democracy. I am not a bureaucrat; I am not a technocrat. I am an elected council member and a political deputy mayor. While the Court of Accounts inspectors are supposed to come every two years, they used to come to our municipality every year. The inspectors from the Ministry of Interior would come for general audits every year. In the audits conducted, we did not encounter any accusations. We emerged from these accusations with our heads held high. If the reports given by the audits conducted by these state institutions have no meaning, then what is the point of disregarding these institutions? Neither I nor my friends committed any crime during these processes," he expressed.
"EXPERTS KNOW THAT I DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME"
Continuing his defense, defendant Yılmaz emphasized that he did not commit a crime, stating, "A year ago, our Mayor was arrested. After the Mayor, I was arrested along with my friends 10 months ago. A search was conducted at my home. I am not guilty or have I committed a crime; what could I possibly have hidden in my home? I was arrested for interfering with the tender. When we look at the expert reports, it will be seen that I only approved those tenders. In fact, when the esteemed prosecutor sent me to court, he was accusing me of approving the tenders. I want to shout out from here, what is the meaning of approval? Does the prosecutor not know what the meaning of approval is? Now, why are these expert reports prepared? Why are these expert reports obtained? The experts who prepare the expert reports are dozens, hundreds of people who audit these tenders. They are knowledgeable about the regulations in their fields, experienced people in tender law and regulations. They know what the consequence of my signature is. Therefore, the experts know that I did not commit a crime. They report to the prosecutor regarding this matter, four reports related to the tenders. The prosecutor absolutely does not take this into account. I am very curious about the reason for this. Is this prejudice because I am political, because I am a member of the Republican People's Party? I absolutely do not accept this. I have been declared guilty in advance; dozens of statements have been made against me," he said.
"THE ACCUSERS BLAMED ME TO SAVE THEMSELVES"
Continuing his defense, defendant Yılmaz stated, "Furthermore, in the expert reports, it has not been determined that I have an organic connection or relationship with the companies that won the tenders, or that I have been in contact with them. Therefore, there has absolutely been no written or verbal notification to me regarding these tender processes. There has been no determination in the expert reports that I have an organic connection with the company or companies that won the tender and that I have been in contact with them. There has absolutely been no written or verbal notification to me regarding these tender processes. If I had known about these during the process of conducting these tenders or if there had been a written or verbal complaint regarding this, I would do whatever is necessary for the public's loss and benefit. The accusers blamed me to save themselves. The lies and accusations they made are abstract and baseless; I absolutely do not accept them. I do not know Mustafa Mutlu's past. Who is Mustafa Mutlu to give me orders? I am not someone who works under Mutlu's protection. Is there any evidence or statement in the indictment that concretely constitutes a crime regarding this matter? I absolutely reject this accusation. Generally, when a document comes from the Municipality Law regulations, from the Ministry of Culture, from the Governorship, from the District Governorship, I may have consulted Mutlu and asked questions when there was a legal problem, but I did not do anything like 'let's do the tenders this way or that way' or 'organize the tenders for me.' I do not have such authority or responsibility," he said.
"OZAN İŞ IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROCESS"
In his defense, Yılmaz stated that Aziz İhsan Aktaş did not threaten him, saying, "One day Ozan İş called me and said, 'Where are you, what are you doing, my president?' I told him that I was working at the municipality and that I was busy. He said to me, 'I have a guest, I will come.' Aziz İhsan Aktaş came, and I greeted all my guests. There is absolutely no way that Aziz İhsan Aktaş forced or threatened me; such a thing cannot be the case. There is no accusation in the indictment regarding bribery or personal gain against me. Ozan İş's fabrication of a lie is that you will forcefully sell something to a man, threaten him, and then openly benefit from it. Could such a thing happen? Is there a mistake in the procedure, is there a public loss? It will be seen that these are absolutely not the case. Önder Gedik has explained in his statement with whom he conducted this process. Ozan İş is responsible for this process. The one who conducted this process is Ozan İş, but Ozan İş is definitely slandering me to save himself. I would like to ask Aziz İhsan Aktaş, what benefit did I provide to Mustafa Mutlu or Alican in the sale of this property? This question should be asked to Aktaş; let him answer it," he said.
The hearing was adjourned for approximately 1 hour.