14.05.2026 01:10
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent the additional statements given by detained former Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım within the scope of "active remorse" to the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent the additional statements given by detained former Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım under the scope of "effective remorse" to the Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber.
It was learned that Yalım, who was arrested as part of a corruption and bribery investigation, was taken to Çağlayan Courthouse upon his request to give a new additional statement and testified for about 5 hours. After the proceedings, Yalım was sent back to prison, and it emerged that he made striking claims regarding the process of the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress in his statements.
"I GAVE MONEY TO ÖZGÜR ÖZEL" CLAIM
In his statement, Yalım claimed that he carried out support activities in favor of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel before the congress. Alleging that he made phone calls with about 600-700 delegates, Yalım said he focused on delegates from Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş.
Also claiming that he gave cash to Özgür Özel, Yalım alleged, "I left 200,000 TL in a bag at his home. I also gave 1 million TL in Denizli." He argued that the money was delivered through Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Chief Advisor Demirhan Gözaçan, who was detained.
"WE WILL SUPPORT YOU IF YOU HIRE OUR CHILDREN"
Claiming that some delegates said they would support Özgür Özel in exchange for their children being hired in CHP-run municipalities, Yalım alleged that the resumes were sent to him via WhatsApp.
"I USED MUNICIPAL VEHICLES FOR PERSONAL MATTERS"
In his statement, Yalım also admitted that municipal vehicles and personnel were used for his personal affairs, saying he had items from his homes in Ankara and İzmir transported using municipal vehicles, and that official vehicles were used for his family's private trips.
Yalım also claimed that he used some money received as donations for personal expenses, stating, "I regret this and want to compensate for the public loss."
VIP VEHICLE CONVERSION CLAIM
Yalım also claimed that the VIP conversion cost of the Mercedes V300 vehicle used by Özgür Özel was paid by Uşak Municipality. He argued that the payment of approximately 170,000 euros plus VAT was hidden within the conversion invoice of another vehicle.
MANİSA MUNICIPALITY ADVISOR DETAINED
Demirhan Gözaçan, the Chief Advisor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, who was named in the investigation, was also detained. In a statement made by Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, it was stated that Gözaçan was detained to provide testimony and information as part of the investigation conducted outside municipal activities.
CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY INVESTIGATION
Özkan Yalım was arrested on March 27 as part of the corruption and bribery investigation. The CHP leadership had also expelled Yalım from the party.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation based on allegations that bribes were taken through duplicate invoicing in Uşak Municipality tenders and that pressure was exerted to give shares to the mayor's relatives in some companies.