25.03.2025 19:20
MASAK made a statement regarding the remarks of CHP leader Özgür Özel about the institution, saying, "Reports are submitted directly to the requesting authority without being presented to or approved by any office other than the Presidency." It was reported that out of the 7 reports submitted by MASAK to judicial authorities, 3 were prepared with dual signatures by authorized assistant experts, while the others were prepared by experts and authorized assistant experts.
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The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) made a statement regarding the words of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel directed at the Board.
MASAK'S RESPONSE TO ÖZEL'S WORDS
In a written statement from the Presidency, it was emphasized that the requests of judicial authorities and law enforcement units hold significant importance in the analysis and examination activities carried out by the Board, and in this context, it was highlighted that MASAK's work is conducted by expert and authorized assistant experts. It was stated that reports prepared based on objective financial data by experts or authorized assistant experts are processed after going through the Presidency's reading and evaluation processes.
"3 OF THE 7 SEPARATE REPORTS WERE PREPARED BY AUTHORIZED ASSISTANT EXPERTS, THE OTHERS BY EXPERTS AND AUTHORIZED ASSISTANT EXPERTS WITH DUAL SIGNATURES"
The statement included the following information: "Therefore, it is not possible to mention that the process is solely conducted at the discretion and responsibility of the assistant expert who prepared the report. MASAK's analysis and examination activities are carried out entirely within the framework of the legislation as a technical process due to the nature of the duty, and the reports prepared are directly submitted to the requesting authority without being disclosed to or approved by any other authority outside the Presidency. There is no involvement of the Ministry's management authorities in this process. In the current matter, 3 of the 7 separate reports prepared by MASAK and submitted to judicial authorities were prepared by authorized assistant experts, while the others were prepared with dual signatures by experts and authorized assistant experts."
"IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SMEARING MASAK WILL NOT BENEFIT ANYONE"
The statement emphasized that the text included at the end of the report is a standard automatic text found in all reports and does not carry a specific meaning for the case, stating, "In this context, it should be noted that smearing the efforts and work of MASAK, which carries out an exceptional duty in the fight against financial crimes, will not benefit anyone."
WHAT DID ÖZEL SAY?
Speaking at the group meeting held at the Beşiktaş Mustafa Kemal Cultural Center, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated, "When did Akın Gürlek (Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor) request a report from MASAK? On March 3. The assignment was made on March 10. When did the MASAK report come? On March 17. It comes two days before the March 19 coup, that is, two days before the operation on Monday. Is there a signature of the MASAK president or his assistant on the report? No. There are four assistant experts, and there is not even one expert among them. They couldn't find an expert to sign the document that the prosecutor was waiting for to base all the accusations on."
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