09.09.2025 12:32
In the investigation of the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, businessman Fazlı Ateş, who was arrested, claimed that the 2 million 747 thousand lira he sent to İlker Arslan, who was removed from his position at the Antalya Police Department and arrested, was not a bribe. He stated, "I don't remember if I got the money back. He might have paid it in cash; if he didn't, that's fine, he is a close friend of mine."
Fazlı Ateş, a businessman who was arrested on charges of facilitating bribery in the investigation against the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, has provided his statement to the prosecutor's office.
In his statement, Ateş mentioned that he completed his education in Niğde and moved to Ankara in 1992 to work. He said, "I wandered around in Ankara for about 1-2 years, then I worked in the clothing industry for 2 years. In 1994, I started a company with a friend named C. H. whom I met, and we began doing landscaping work. We continued this way until 2019-2020, after which we ended the partnership. I chose Antalya, where I had come due to the tenders I had previously won, to establish my own company. I have never been married. We are four siblings. My father is retired," he said.
"I PARTICIPATED IN ANTALYA METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY TENDERS 5-6 TIMES"
Ateş stated that he participated in the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality tenders 5-6 times through direct procurement and won. He said, "The first tender I won was for the roof repair work of Kemer Municipality. Since my company was new and I was not financially strong, I did not participate in the municipality's open tenders. I would participate in smaller budget tenders that were direct procurements. I did not mediate for any company or individual that won a tender from the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality or its affiliates to win the tender or to resolve any issues related to the tender," he said.
"HE TRIED TO THROW ME INTO THE FIRE"
Fazlı Ateş, recalling the statement of businessman B. Ç., who was arrested in the bribery investigation against the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and later released, said, "Fazlı Ateş; he said he was close to Gökhan Böcek and Muhittin Böcek and that he could contact them so that we wouldn't have any issues with payments." In response to the question of whether he mediated between the Antalya Metropolitan Mayor and individuals, Ateş replied:
"I met Gökhan Böcek through a friend in Istanbul in 2019. I had asked Gökhan Böcek to introduce me to his father. I had previously taken a job from the municipality, and when Muhittin Böcek became president in the new term, I wanted to meet him as well. I have met with the president a total of 4-5 times. I don't know why B. Ç. made this statement, but he tried to throw me into the fire. This statement is slander; it is baseless."
"I GAVE 3.8 MILLION LIRA REQUESTED IN ILKER'S NAME"
Recalling the statements that B. Ç. gave Ateş 6 million 105 thousand lira regarding the payments of the receivables at the municipality and that he took 3 million 871 thousand lira from him by saying that the Provincial Police Chief Ilker Arslan needed it, Fazlı Ateş said, "In 2022, I borrowed 4.5 million TL from B. Ç. to establish a business and to resolve my difficulties. When I couldn't pay, I gave them my apartment in Ankara. Again, when my business was tight, I asked him for a cash loan of 2 million, which he sent through his employee M. A. M. A. sent me the money from his account. However, the claims that I received money for bribery, receivables, payments, or any irregular transactions are absolutely false slander. My chief Ilker cannot have such a request; he did not either," he said.
2 MILLION LIRA BRIBERY ALLEGATION
When asked about the statements that E. T., a businessman working with the municipality, met with Ateş to resolve issues related to receivables and that he said he could solve the problem by talking to the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality Muhittin Böcek, his son Gökhan Böcek, and the Deputy Secretary General and also the Head of the Department of Science Affairs S. T., and that he delivered the requested 2 million lira in cash, Ateş replied, "The only true part of his statement is that I borrowed 2 million TL. There is absolutely no money I received from him regarding the tender or the job. About 20-25 days later, I made the payment with the money I received from my receivables," he said.
"I MET ILKER ARSLAN 30 YEARS AGO"
Fazlı Ateş stated that he met Ilker Arslan about 30 years ago in Ankara, saying, "After I came to Antalya, our friendship progressed when he was appointed as the Provincial Director of Antalya in 2024. I also met his family in Antalya. His wife worked at my company for about 3 months in 2025 as a social security employee, but since my workplace was not officially open, she came 2-3 times. I made a payment of 3 months' minimum wage. After 3 months, she said she left the job." When asked whether Ilker Arslan acted as an intermediary for the tenders of the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality to be given to him, Ateş said, "This issue is absolutely not true; it is a product of imagination."
"IF HE HASN'T PAID, THEN AS LONG AS HE IS HEALTHY"
When asked what the 250 thousand lira he sent to Police Chief Ilker Arslan was related to, Ateş said, "I have known Chief Ilker for years. He is my friend; I lend him money if necessary. I don't remember why I sent this money, but he must have asked for a loan. I must have sent it. It definitely cannot mean anything else. He may have paid it back in cash. If he hasn't paid, then as long as he is healthy, he is my close friend," he replied.
"FRIENDLY MONEY TRANSACTIONS"
When asked about the 997 thousand lira deposited into a company account with the explanation of 'customs clearance service fee belonging to Ilker Arslan,' Ateş said, "At that time, the chief had brought a car from abroad, and customs clearance was to be done. He called me and asked me to make the payment if my account was available. I sent this money due to our sincerity. I don't remember whether I got the money back or not. But whether he pays or not is not very important to me. Our friendship has gone to a high level. However, these money transfers are definitely not for bribery or any purpose; they are friendly money transactions," he said.
"WE SETTLED 500 THOUSAND LIRA BETWEEN US"
When asked about the reason for sending 1 million 500 thousand lira to the company account for the sale of the house purchased in the name of Ilker Arslan's daughter D. H. A., Fazlı Ateş said, "Chief Ilker sold me his land in Gölbaşı for 2 million. I had to send him 2 million lira for this trade. Chief Ilker told me to send 1.5 million TL of the land money to the IBAN number he would give me. I sent the money to that account the next day. I settled the remaining 500 thousand TL between us because we had a friendly loan relationship from previous times. I wanted to buy the land and invest, and I also helped Chief Ilker's daughter to make the down payment for the apartment she bought," he said.
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NO SALE TRANSACTION IN THE DEED
On the other hand, the statements of Arslan and Ateş, the MASAK reports, and the prosecutor's opinion drew attention to their contradictory statements. İlker Arslan claimed in his statement that he sold his land in Ankara to Fazlı Ateş for 5 million TL, while Ateş stated that the amount was 2 million TL. However, no sale transaction was found in the title deed records.
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