18.03.2025 12:21
A statement has been obtained from Özalp Tozan, the founding partner of the American University of Kyrenia, who was questioned as a "suspect" in the investigation regarding the claim that Ekrem İmamoğlu's university diploma is fake. In his statement, Tozan stated that he did not know İmamoğlu and that there were no references, adding, "Many universities in Turkey knew that transfers could not be made."
The investigation initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the allegations that İmamoğlu's bachelor's degree is fake is ongoing.
As part of the investigation, Özalp Tozan, the founding partner of Girne American University, was questioned as a "suspect".
In his statement, Tozan explained that he and Serhat Akpınar established Girne American University in 1986, stating that they made an agreement to use the title University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC) as an affiliate campus of Southeastern University in Washington, USA.
"THERE WAS DEFINITELY NO EQUIVALENCE OF GİRNE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY AT THAT TIME"
Tozan stated that they had no requests regarding the recognition of the university by Turkey during their working period, and he noted:
"It was already an internationally recognized university. Girne American University was established as an affiliate under the umbrella of the university in America. During my tenure, there was no graduation diploma issued by Girne American University itself. The diploma of our first graduates is the one given by the rector of Southeastern University, which came from America. Everyone who registered at the university between 1986-1992, when I was in charge, knows that this university has no equivalence in Turkey. Girne American University definitely had no equivalence at that time. I emphasize this. Our equivalence comes from the equivalence of the university in America. I used to say this in university promotions as well. As the director of admissions, I did not provide false information to any of my students. I told them that Girne American University would not issue diplomas but would provide them through the university it had an agreement with. The general nature of the conversations and university promotions is like this. All the students who registered at Girne American University during that time know that there is no equivalence in Turkey, but they know that they benefit from the equivalence of the university they are affiliated with in America. Girne American University has no equivalence in Turkey. Its equivalence is indirect, based on America."
"I DEFINITELY DO NOT KNOW İMAMOĞLU"
Özalp Tozan stated that he did not know why Ekrem İmamoğlu had written his name on the list of people to be consulted, suggesting that it might be due to him being the one who established the entire staff at the English preparatory school, and he expressed:
"I definitely do not know him personally. I do not know why he wrote such a thing. Istanbul University has never contacted me about this issue. I have thousands of students; it is impossible for me to remember. Girne American University is not a foundation university; it is a private company university. Let me clarify. For example, Bilkent University is a foundation university. Horizontal transfers are made between institutions that are equivalent to each other. Due to the very few universities at that time, universities know that the transfer between universities will be made among equivalent institutions. In other words, it is not possible to transfer from a private university to a state university. Vertical transfer is a transfer between programs. Girne American University is a university established by a private company, and I cannot understand how a transfer to a state university in the Republic of Turkey can be made."
"TURKISH UNIVERSITIES KNEW THAT TRANSFERS COULD NOT BE MADE"
Tozan expressed that he did not know or remember anyone who transferred to Istanbul University, stating, "At that time, there were only a handful of universities in Turkey. Girne American University would not want transfers. It would not want to lose 80-100 of its students to other universities. In this context, many universities in Turkey knew that transfers could not be made. I have never provided a reference to anyone in my life regarding this matter. My only aim is to provide added value to Cyprus economically."
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation for the crime of "forgery of official documents" based on reports of İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu's bachelor's degree being fake and findings in the report prepared by the Higher Education Council regarding the falsity of the diploma.
As part of the investigation, İmamoğlu's statement was taken on March 5.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in its initial letter sent to the Rectorate of Istanbul University, indicated that according to the research report of the Higher Education Council (YÖK), only Eastern Mediterranean University was recognized among the higher education institutions operating in the TRNC during that period.
Considering the correspondence included in the report, it was stated that the condition of recognition of foreign higher education institutions was sought in horizontal transfer transactions, and therefore it was understood that the horizontal transfer transactions made for the University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC), which has no recognition, were not carried out in accordance with YÖK decisions by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University.
In its letter, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated, "It has been determined that the administrative processes regarding recognition, horizontal transfer quotas, announcement periods, and acceptance of horizontal transfers were carried out contrary to YÖK decisions by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Business Administration at Istanbul University within the scope of the research report of YÖK. It has been noted that the diploma in question continues to be used (for example, by the Supreme Election Council, etc.), and in this context, necessary actions should be taken as soon as possible to ensure that the transactions to be established based on the diploma are not unlawful, considering the irreparable legal consequences that may arise from the use of the diploma in question by the Rectorate of Istanbul University. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an administrative investigation or, if an administrative investigation is already being conducted, to send the investigation reports in question to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office."
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested that all approved copies of the documents related to İBB President İmamoğlu's education at Istanbul University be sent, and it sought to determine who and by whom the processes related to the acceptance of horizontal transfers on September 12, 1990, were established and the clear identity information of these individuals.
In the letter, it was also requested that the response regarding whether similar horizontal transfer transactions were carried out on the dates mentioned in the report on horizontal transfers be sent to the prosecutor's office promptly.