07.05.2026 22:51
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that Usak Mayor Özkan Yalım, who was suspended from duty, and Gökhan Böcek, son of Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek, gave statements and became confessors by benefiting from effective remorse provisions.
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek evaluated current issues during a live broadcast program he attended.
Minister Gürlek stated that Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım, who was arrested and suspended from duty within the scope of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of "bribery", "extortion", and "fraud in public tenders", and Gökhan Böcek, the son of Muhittin Böcek, who was arrested and suspended from his mayoral duties within the scope of a "corruption" investigation against Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, gave statements under the provisions of effective remorse.
"GÖKHAN BÖCEK WANTED TO BENEFIT FROM EFFECTIVE REMORSE, HIS STATEMENT WAS TAKEN"
The relevant part of Minister Gürlek's statements on the subject is as follows: "The trial is currently ongoing regarding Muhittin Böcek, Gökhan Böcek, and other individuals. Additionally, the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office recently conducted an operation related to a new investigation. Muhittin Böcek was arrested for a second time. Of course, as far as I know, there is also an investigation in Istanbul. I believe Zuhal Böcek was arrested there. I know that Gökhan Böcek's statements were taken under effective remorse. He made a statement on that matter. But of course, this is an ongoing investigation process. He wanted to benefit from effective remorse, and his statement was taken.
"I KNOW THAT ÖZKAN YALIM GAVE A STATEMENT THIS MORNING"
There is a development regarding Uşak. The chief prosecutor's office in Istanbul is conducting an investigation. It is currently in the investigation phase... I do not know the exact number of suspects in Istanbul. Özkan Yalım's assets have been seized. There is an ongoing process. As I said, the private life part does not concern us. Here, the allegations are corruption claims, bribery, bid rigging, establishing and managing an organization. As far as I know today, I heard that Özkan Yalım's statements were also taken by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office under effective remorse. I know he gave a statement this morning.
"EVERYONE HAS A PRIVATE LIFE. WE RESPECT THAT"
Regarding Özkan Yalım, unfortunately, we have launched an investigation concerning the sharing of images from a cell phone or computer on social media. These are unpleasant things. Everyone has a private life. We respect that. Our concern is only the alleged acts. Their private lives do not concern us. We were not aware that the woman was inside. The prosecutor's office and law enforcement also learned about it later. In the hotel record, Özkan Yalım appears to be alone in the hotel room. For him to stay in the same room with a municipal employee is an ethical issue. The part that concerns us is the subject of the investigation. There is a detention order here entirely.