13.11.2025 21:06
The indictment prepared as part of the 'Corruption' investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) has been completed. The indictment includes Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of IBB, along with 402 suspects, 105 of whom are in custody. New details regarding the indictment have also emerged. The indictment requests prison sentences for artist Ercan Saatçi and actor Serkan Balbal as well.
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The indictment prepared as part of the 'Corruption' investigation against the İBB has been completed. In the indictment, artist Ercan Saatçi was included as a suspect. Actor Serkan Balbal was also mentioned as one of the individuals named in the indictment.
UP TO 38 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT REQUESTED FOR ERCAN SAATÇİ The indictment claims that Saatçi's company issued fake invoices. A prison sentence of 14 to 38 years is requested for Saatçi on charges of 'fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations', 'knowingly and willingly aiding a criminal organization without being part of its hierarchical structure', and 'money laundering of assets derived from crime'. The indictment states that, following the guidance of Murat Ongun, the illicit profits obtained by organizing events and subcontractor tenders were transferred to the organization through false invoices arranged for some companies by Emrah Bağdatlı and Serdal Taşkın. It was also noted that fake invoices were issued through Saatçi Ajans Eğitim Reklam Organizasyon Hizmetleri A.Ş., which is managed by Ercan Saatçi, to increase the amount of receivables. The suspect businessman Serdar Haydanlı, whose statement was included in the indictment, stated that there were 5 different companies that issued fake invoices to Saatçi Ajans Eğitim Reklam ve Organizasyon Hizmetleri A.Ş., and that he was forced by Serdal Taşkın to receive two invoices dated December 30, 2019, totaling 339,000 lira from Ercan Saatçi's company. In his statement, Serdar Haydanlı also said, "In the later process, checks I received from Kültür A.Ş. at the beginning of 2020, which were issued to my company 4.5 G or from other clients under Kültür A.Ş., were given to me for payment. I was forced by Serdal Taşkın to endorse and deliver the short-term checks to Vesa Events and Saatçi Ajans. The long-term checks remained with me in relation to my receivables. I endorsed a check worth 300,000 lira dated January 23, 2020, and delivered it to Saatçi Ajans. I delivered this check to a company named Saatçi, which did not do any work."
Ercan Saatçi ALLEGATION OF AN APARTMENT BEING GIVEN AT THE REQUEST OF İMAMOĞLU On the other hand, businessman Adem Soytekin stated in his testimony that he gave one 4+1 garden duplex apartment to Serdar Taşkın and one 2+1 apartment to Ercan Saatçi from his project named Butik Panorama in Bahçeşehir. Soytekin said, "As far as I remember, the title deed of the apartment I gave to Ercan Saatçi was not in his name. I did not receive any payment from these individuals in return for these apartments. I transferred these apartments after Mehmet Murat Çalık called me and said that Serdal Taşkın and Ercan Saatçi should be given the apartments requested by Ekrem İmamoğlu. I estimate that the money for these apartments was delivered in cash to my employee named Serpil by Zafer Keleş or Murat Keleş about 5-6 months later. I will present both the title deed records and the money accounts that entered the company to your Chief Public Prosecutor's Office," he stated.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 16 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR ACTOR SERKAN BALBAL The indictment also included the statement of businessman Murat Kapki, who is alleged to be the 'person managing the money traffic', and Serkan Balbal, who is claimed to have taken some assets under his name before the operation. Actor Serkan Balbal, known for the series 'Children Shouldn't Hear', was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation and became a whistleblower by benefiting from the effective remorse provisions and was released. A total prison sentence of 7 years and 4 months to 16 years and 8 months is requested for Balbal on charges of 'knowingly aiding an organization established for the purpose of committing a crime' and 'money laundering of assets obtained from crime'.
Serkan Balbal "I LENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY" In his statement, Balbal explained that Murat Kapki gave gifts to İBB officials that could easily be converted into cash, stating that the gifts were expensive brand watches and valuable paintings. Balbal also stated, "I worked with him in the past. I lent a significant amount of money for some projects. In return for these debts, I received approximately 12 million 400 thousand lira in cash from Berat Kapki and Feyza Kapki and deposited it into my account. This money is still in my account. I met Murat Kapki because I needed to rent walls for the pre-release advertisements of the films I produced between 2010-2012. I unofficially became a partner in some radio stations. Most of the cash transactions between us stem from the debts arising from our commercial relationship," he said.
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