Interesting defense from Bahar Candan: "I have 1-2 million in my account, I am poor."

The trial of Bahar Candan and Nihal Candan on charges of 'money laundering' and 'membership in a criminal organization' continues. Nihal Candan, addressing her sister Bahar in the courtroom, said, "Things are going well; Engin Polat got out, you will get out too."

Social media influencers known as Bahar Candan and Nihal Candan, whose real name is Gülnihal Çiçek, were arrested on November 16, 2023, on charges of 'money laundering' and 'membership in a criminal organization' and sent to prison. Nihal Candan, who lost 37 kilograms in prison due to health problems, was released. The Candan sisters, among 22 defendants, appeared before the Küçükçekmece 5th Heavy Penal Court for the second time, within the scope of the indictment prepared by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

"ALL THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME ARE COMPLETELY FALSE"

Bahar Candan, the detained defendant, made interesting statements during the trial. Denying the allegations against her, Candan said: "All the allegations against me are completely false. As soon as I heard the news about me, I obtained the statements of all my bank accounts and submitted them to the prosecutor's office. I do not know the people present here. My social circle is wide. No one has been a victim in my circle. When my sister Nihal Candan told me that Onur Apaydın was her boyfriend, I accepted him as my brother-in-law. She also told me his name was Kaan. I did not check Kaan's criminal record. At that time, I was spending my time with television shootings. I was only saying 'rest' for the remaining period. It was not possible for me to follow what Kaan was doing during that time. I only knew Kaan as my sister's boyfriend. I had only information about their private relationship. I had no knowledge about the alleged fraud crimes."

"MY FAMILY HAS SUFFERED, I CAN'T MAKE MONEY"

I used to go to the restaurant in Etiler, but the alleged incidents took place at the branch in Zeytinburnu. I have never been to the restaurant in Zeytinburnu in my life. I have not witnessed any car buying and selling issues in these environments. I don't even know how to drive a car. I am not a naive woman. I am studying at the Law Faculty on a scholarship. I have been working since I was 17, and I started my career as a model. For the past 2 years, I have been making money from social media through an agency. My family suffered because of me going to prison with my sister, and I couldn't make money. I couldn't go to school, and my psychology was completely disturbed in the prison environment I was in. I stayed in a mental hospital and became dependent on medication. I lost my health at a young age. I demand the redress of my grievances and my release. I demand my freedom."

"MY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ARE INTENDED TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK RICHER"

Bahar Candan said, "The content I share on social media is intended to make myself look richer. It is intended to show off to other influencers. Therefore, I have done a great harm to myself, maybe because I thought the victims' money should be with me. I have no connection to the victims' fraud. The expenses in the alleged actions of the victims are already high. How can such a fraud happen? I learned from the file that the person I knew as Kaan abi is actually Onur Apaydın. I made a post about 12 million lira to show off and get more jobs because I make a lot of money from social media. But I didn't have that money in my account. I went to prison with a clear conscience, but I still couldn't get out."

"I HAVE 1-2 MILLION IN MY ACCOUNT, I AM POOR"

Candan said, "One day, Kaan abi asked me if I had ever been to a nightclub. I said I hadn't. Despite my mother's advice not to go, I went to the nightclub thinking it would be different. I threw the 600 lira given by Kaan abi to the women playing there as part of the practice. The person who assaulted me was tried and sentenced. This incident has nothing to do with Kaan abi. I say banks don't lie. I deny the allegations that I was Kaan abi's accountant. Kaan abi wanted to start a family with my sister. He had pure feelings. I am not in a relationship with Kaan abi, I haven't even had a meal with him. I have a completely different life. I have been in a relationship for 5 years, and I will get married when I get out. My world is very different from theirs. I can't even see my sister much. I have never had my own company in my life. I don't have a house or a car. I have 1-2 million in my account, I am poor." she said.