30.06.2026 17:00
In the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, allegations that money was transferred from certain advertising companies that received tenders from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to the company of Zeynep Ongun, the wife of detained Murat Ongun, have been added to the case file. While the investigation scrutinizes the 4.5 million TL rent payment, defenses of "2 kilograms of gold," and "jewelry sales," it is claimed that the company statements in the file contradict these explanations.
In the second wave of the investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was alleged that high-value payments were made from Medya A.Ş., an affiliate of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), to BYZAG Sanat Tasarım ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti., owned by Zeynep Ayten Gözdem Ongun, wife of detained Murat Ongun, from numerous advertising companies that had won tenders.
It was stated in the MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) reports and witness statements within the case file that these money movements are under scrutiny.
ALLEGATION THAT 'EMRAH BAĞDATLI PRESSURED COMPANIES'
According to allegations in the file, Emrah Bağdatlı, who is claimed to be Murat Ongun's "safe keeper," contacted companies that had won tenders from Medya A.Ş. and requested payments to Zeynep Ongun's company.
It was reported that Muhittin Palazoğlu, who testified in the investigation, stated that after threatening messages from Bağdatlı, 600,000 TL was sent to Zeynep Ongun's company through an advertising firm named Adstation, owned by his brother Ahmet Palazoğlu.
NUMEROUS COMPANIES INCLUDED IN MASAK INVESTIGATION
In the financial examinations conducted within the scope of the investigation, it was alleged that money transfers were made to Zeynep Ongun's account from many advertising companies that had obtained work from IBB and especially Medya A.Ş.
It was stated that the companies mentioned in the file include Adstation Event, Aktif Spor, Aslım Reklam, ECM Yapım, Ed İletişim, KMD Reklam, Lap Turizm, Mürettebat Medya, Peripol İletişim, Pluto Lojistik, SYK Roll Organizasyon, and Urbanmedia Reklam.
The Chief Public Prosecutors Office alleged that these money movements occurred as part of transferring some of the benefits, deemed to have been obtained from advertising companies, to Zeynep Ongun's company.
In this context, it was stated that Zeynep Ongun was detained on charges of membership in an organization and mediating bribery.
LUXURY RESIDENT RENT IN THE FILE
The investigation file also included statements regarding the annual rent payment of 3.7 million TL for Murat Ongun's luxury residence.
According to the allegation in the file, despite Murat Ongun's statement claiming assistance from IBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu for the rent, it was determined that the rent payment was made by Zeynep Ongun, and 4 million TL was sent to her account from a private company, not from an account belonging to İmamoğlu.
The prosecutor's office considered this money movement as one of the significant topics in the investigation.
4.5 MILLION TL RENT AND '2 KILOS OF GOLD' DEFENSE
Within the scope of the investigation, Zeynep Ongun was also asked how she paid 4.5 million TL in rent and deposit for a house with a monthly rent of 310,000 TL.
It was reported that while Ongun initially stated in police custody that the money was given to her in cash by Murat Ongun, she later claimed in the prosecutor's office that she received approximately 2 kilos of gold from her mother-in-law in Giresun, cashed it in Rize, and made the rent payment.
ALLEGATION THAT 'SHE NEVER WENT TO RIZE'
According to HTS (Call Detail Records) and base station records in the Chief Public Prosecutors Office file, it was alleged that Zeynep Ongun was determined never to have gone to Rize on the relevant dates.
The file also stated that despite Murat Ongun having two separate bank safe deposit boxes in Istanbul, it remains unclear why the family's jewelry was kept in Giresun.
It was indicated that the source of the approximately 5 million TL rent payment for the upcoming year is also being investigated as part of the probe.
ALLEGED CONTRADICTION BETWEEN 'I SOLD JEWELRY' DEFENSE AND COMPANY STATEMENTS
It was stated that in her testimony, Zeynep Ongun defended that the money coming into her account was obtained from the sale of jewelry, beads, and similar items.
However, it was reported that the representatives of the complainant companies in the file claimed that they did not purchase any products from Zeynep Ongun and were forced to send money due to pressure from Emrah Bağdatlı.
Additionally, when asked which cargo company she used to send the products, Zeynep Ongun stated that an unknown person came and collected the items, which is among the allegations reflected in the file.
SHOP IN NİŞANTAŞI ALSO UNDER INVESTIGATION
It was reported that in her testimony, Zeynep Ongun stated she had a shop in Nişantaşı that had not yet opened.
It was learned that the Chief Public Prosecutors Office is continuing the investigation by evaluating this shop together with BYZAG company's financial movements, invoice records, and money transfers from advertising companies.