04.02.2026 16:52
In the case of "Saint İhsan Aktaş criminal organization," detained defendant Mehmet Ataş, who is the driver of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, stated, "I was just a driver, I was an employee. I followed the instructions given to me. Unregistered money was coming to the municipality, but I don't know where it was coming from. By unregistered, I mean it was not from the bank, it was coming in cash."
In the case of "Saint İhsan Aktaş organized crime group," the indictment prepared regarding the allegation of bribery given to the mayors, including the suspended detained Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, detained Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, detained Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, detained Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, detained Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, and the released and reinstated Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, for organizing tender processes, the trial of 200 defendants continues.
HE EXPLAINED THE MONEY TRAFFIC LIKE THIS
In the hearing, the suspended detained mayor of Beşiktaş, Rıza Akpolat's chauffeur and detained defendant Mehmet Ataş, who is alleged to have carried the money to Akpolat, stated, "I was not Akpolat's only chauffeur; there were multiple chauffeurs besides me. All money transfers are Akpolat's personal payments. I would make payments according to the instructions he gave me. The payments in the MASAK report are not my payments; they are Akpolat's payments. It is impossible for me to know why these payments were made. It is absolutely impossible for me to ask or question these payments. There were times when I made cash payments under the instruction of Rıza Akpolat outside of my bank accounts. Cash payments were communicated to me in a closed manner by the private secretary. I do not accept the allegations that I was the superior of the other chauffeurs. There is no difference between me and the other chauffeur friends," he said.
"ILLEGAL MONEY WAS COMING TO THE MUNICIPALITY"
The presiding judge asked the defendant, "Whose villa is in Acarket?" to which defendant Ataş replied, "I had been there once; I was taking Rıza Akpolat. Akpolat was saying to his children, 'We will live here now.' I was just a chauffeur, I was an employee. I fulfilled the instructions given to me. I was making the payments for Ms. Yeşim; this instruction was given to me by Rıza Akpolat. I do not have the authority to question the tasks assigned to me due to my profession. I request my release and acquittal. Illegal money was coming to the municipality, but I do not know where it was coming from. By illegal, I mean it was not coming from the bank; it was coming in cash. Rıza Akpolat had rented a yacht for his wedding anniversary with his wife, but due to later conversations, I thought he had bought a yacht. I have been away from my family for months. I was dismissed from my job, I have no other income, my family is struggling a lot. I request my release," he stated.
RIZA AKPOLAT'S "SAFE": HOW CAN A HOUSE I BOUGHT WITH MY LABOR BE HIS?
In the indictment, detained defendant Rabil Artan, who is referred to as Rıza Akpolat's childhood friend and 'safe' in the statement of Kazım Gökhan Yankılıç, said, "The real value of the house is 22 million lira. I do not understand how the house I bought with my labor can belong to Rıza Akpolat. Rıza Akpolat's ex-wife Derya Özhan used the house that belongs to me. Let me explain it this way; I bought the house, it was empty for about ten months. We did not want to rent it out due to tenant issues, but we learned that Derya Özhan was arguing with the landlord, so Özhan had to leave that house. We told Derya that we were not using the house at the moment and that they could stay for a while. We bought the house with the gold and money given at our wedding. My wife and I couldn't even tell our child that we were in prison. My son still thinks I am in the military. I request my release and acquittal," he stated.
After the defenses, the panel adjourned the hearing for about 1 hour.