02.06.2026 20:00
Detained Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım, who gave additional testimony as part of the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress Investigation, made claims that will put Özgür Özel in a difficult position. Stating that during the congress process, he called approximately 700 delegates to request support for Özgür Özel and obtained signatures from 115 of them, Yalım also alleged that he sent 1 million TL to Özel through an intermediary for congress expenses during the same period.
Imprisoned CHP Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım and businessman Turgut Koç, known for his closeness to Özgür Özel and Veli Ağbaba, gave new testimony today at Çağlayan Courthouse as part of the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress Investigation.
ÖZKAN YALIM: 115 DELEGATES SIGNED SUPPORT FOR ÖZGÜR ÖZEL
Özkan Yalım stated that during the congress process, he conducted intense activities to ensure Özgür Özel's election as party chairman, including direct contact with delegates in approximately 40 provinces and calling around 700 delegates to request support. Yalım said that 115 delegates signed written commitments to support Özgür Özel before the congress, which he collected and delivered to Selin Sayek Böke.
ALLEGATION OF "VOTES IN EXCHANGE FOR JOBS AT THE MUNICIPALITY"
Yalım noted that during contacts with delegates, some delegates conveyed various demands in exchange for support, and these demands were forwarded to the party's coordination center. Özkan Yalım claimed that some delegates requested the hiring of their relatives in municipalities, and a delegate from Kahramanmaraş said he would provide support in exchange for hiring two of his relatives in Istanbul municipalities. Among Özkan Yalım's allegations was that resumes of these individuals were submitted to party officials.
Imprisoned Yalım stated that whether delegates' relatives were hired in municipalities could be determined through Social Security Institution records.
"I GAVE 1 MILLION TL TO ÖZGÜR ÖZEL THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY"
In his testimony, Özkan Yalım also shared information about the election coordination center active during the congress process. Yalım noted that this center was a structure where requests from delegates were collected and organized, with overall coordination carried out by Veli Ağbaba and the Istanbul branch by Suat Özçağdaş.
Additionally, Yalım admitted that he gave 1 million TL to Özgür Özel as part of congress-related expenses, which was requested for costs related to the convention organization and election process, and delivered through an intermediary.