Osman Gökçek came to the Turkish Grand National Assembly with a coffin, body bags, and shrouds.

The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, which has been criticized for exorbitant concert ticket prices, is now in the spotlight again with allegations of fraud over a coffin and body bag tender... AK Party Ankara Deputy Osman Gökçek drew attention by bringing a coffin, a shroud set, and a funeral bag to a press conference held in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) regarding the issue.

WHO DID THEY USE THEM FOR?

Gökçek stated that the ABB (Ankara Metropolitan Municipality) called for a tender for the purchase of funeral bags and shrouds after the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, saying, "They called for a tender 11 days after the earthquake. This tender was made with the 21-B emergency procurement. The tender was concluded on March 11, 2023, for the goods to be delivered. The earthquake occurred, 35 days passed, and the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality purchased shroud sets and body bags worth 80 million. Despite 35 days passing, for which citizen in that region did they use them?" he said.

"THEY FILLED BODY BAGS WITH MONEY"

Pointing out that Üsküdar State Hospital purchased 30 shroud sets at 259 lira each during the same period, Gökçek said, "Üsküdar State Hospital is buying body bags at 57 lira each. If we go by this calculation, we should have 1 million 250 thousand body bags in hand. Where are these body bags? We also do not know how many shrouds they purchased in this tender and how many body bags they bought. There are problems on both sides of this issue. While our citizens are sending their bracelets, people are going to that region in the cold, trying to heal the wounds of others, these people filled the shrouds and body bags with money." he stated.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS FRAUD?"

Gökçek noted that the company that won this tender is a construction firm and that the company has only done two jobs related to funerals so far, both for ABB, saying, "I address the CHP members who come to us every day to talk about earthquake-related issues, what do you think about this fraud committed by Mansur Yavaş? Where do you position this?" he asked.

ALLEGED AMOUNT IS 15 MILLION TL

Gökçek stated that ABB paid significantly more money for shroud and coffin purchases compared to other municipalities, claiming that corruption amounting to 15 million lira occurred in tenders held in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

"WHO POCKETED THIS MONEY?"

Gökçek stated that the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality awarded tenders to companies unrelated to the subject, saying, "Who pocketed this money? To whom are these funds being handed over for my fellow citizens of Ankara? These individuals must be revealed. I will submit all of this to our prosecutor's office. I believe that all data and individuals should be investigated. Mr. Mansur Yavaş has been doing these things for years; why is this man not being pursued regarding this issue? Is there perhaps a gang protecting him in Ankara regarding this matter? Mr. Mansur Yavaş, the fraud you committed during the pandemic, at concerts, with coffins, body bags, and shrouds is evident. While people are crying, and screams are coming from under the rubble, while we all stand united as Turkey, where are the body bags and shrouds from the tender you conducted?"