30.05.2025 11:43
The statement of businessman Eyüp Subaşı, who was arrested in the İBB corruption investigation and became a whistleblower by benefiting from effective remorse, has come to light. Subaşı stated that İmamoğlu was aware of the cash payments he made as bribes to Fatih Keleş, saying, "İmamoğlu's advisors and municipal employees are part of an entity referred to as the 'SYSTEM.' The purpose of this entity is to make İmamoğlu a political power."
The statement of businessman Eyüp Subaşı, who was released under house arrest and a travel ban due to benefiting from the effective remorse provisions in the corruption investigation against the İBB, has emerged.
In Subaşı's statement, he said, "Ekrem İmamoğlu's advisors and the municipal bureaucrats and employees involved in these irregularities are part of an organization referred to as 'THE SYSTEM.' My motive is entirely related to my own commercial activities. In fact, the Ekrem İmamoğlu I mentioned, Fatih Keleş, and other individuals have used me. All the processes I mentioned in my statement, including cash transactions, are known to Ekrem İmamoğlu."
GAVE TWO SEPARATE STATEMENTS
It has been learned that Subaşı gave two separate statements on May 16 and May 28. In his statement, Subaşı said, "I have been working in the advertising sector in Istanbul since 2000. I moved to Beylikdüzü in 2009. In 2014, I established a company named Genç Popülist in the name of my wife, Gülşah Subaşı. The reason I established this company in my wife's name is due to some tax debts I had at that time. My wife, Gülşah Subaşı, has had no activities in this company. Since I am also listed in the general power of attorney, I carried out all the transactions. My phone numbers are registered in official institutions, banks, and other relevant places. Since I have been doing the advertising work for the Beylikdüzü branch of Sınav Schools since 2004, Cemil İmamoğlu, the owner of this place, is my friend. In 2014, while we were having dinner together, I met Fatih Keleş, who was present at the dinner."
"I MET İMAMOĞLU IN 2014"
In 2014, two months before the municipal elections, Fatih Keleş called me and offered me to handle the pressure and wall work for Ekrem İmamoğlu's election campaign. I accepted this offer, and thus our communication began. Shortly after, Fatih Keleş introduced me to Ekrem İmamoğlu at an election office in Beylikdüzü. During this meeting, Ekrem İmamoğlu told me that I could manage all the official and unofficial processes related to advertising with Fatih Keleş. After this process, I worked on the advertising jobs for Ekrem İmamoğlu during his term as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü and later during his term as the Mayor of Istanbul. About two months before the 2019 municipal elections, I called Fatih Keleş and said that I could handle the advertising work related to the election activities, and he agreed. Thus, I worked on the advertising jobs related to Ekrem İmamoğlu's election campaign. After Ekrem İmamoğlu was elected mayor, I informed Fatih Keleş that we could handle the jobs related to outdoor advertising media and other advertising media, and that my company had experience in this area. Fatih Keleş accepted my offer, and he requested 10% of my turnover in cash for the production tender, which I also accepted. In the following process, Fatih Keleş directed me to Serdal Taşkın, who was appointed as the General Manager of Kültür A. Ş. Serdal Taşkın organized the tender process related to production in a way that I would win. The subject of the tender I mentioned regarding production includes digital printing, billboards, posters, and municipal promotional informational visuals to be carried out for one year. This tender was held in early 2020," it has been learned.
"FATİH KELEŞ SAID İMAMOĞLU KNEW ABOUT CASH TRANSACTIONS"
In the continuation of his statement, Subaşı said, "During the tender process, I delivered approximately 5 million lira in cash to Fatih Keleş in installments on different dates, a total of 8-10 times, by withdrawing 10% of the revenues corresponding to the entitlements and payments from Genç Popülist Medya company in cash at his office in the presidential residence in Florya. As far as I could see, there was no safe in this office; he would either put the money in a cabinet there or carry it in a backpack. Fatih Keleş would tell me that Ekrem İmamoğlu was personally aware of this cash transaction. As I mentioned at the beginning of my statement, Ekrem İmamoğlu had personally said that we could carry out unofficial jobs together with Fatih Keleş. Several times, I delivered the cash I brought to Fatih Keleş at his workplace in the Marble Makers Site. Close to the expiration date of this tender's contract, I was asked to find a side offer for the period that would remain vacant until a new tender was made, under the guidance of Serdal Taşkın, the General Manager of Kültür A. Ş. During this period, we obtained side offers from Quara, Format Reklam, and a company whose name I do not remember belonging to Kabil Taşçı. In June 2020, after Serdal Taşkın left the General Manager position at Kültür A. Ş., the advertising process was completely managed by Murat Ongun. Murat Abbas, who came to the General Directorate of Kültür A. Ş., only dealt with cultural and artistic works. Murat Ongun organized the advertising jobs with Emrah Bağdatlı and the organizational jobs with Barış Kılıç. In 2020, I requested an appointment from Murat Ongun to discuss the new process, and we had a meeting lasting about 40 minutes at his office in Saraçhane. During this meeting, he told me, 'Mr. Eyüp, we will only build our own structure; we do not plan to work with you in the new period.' He said that he would not give me any other job and that I should fulfill my responsibilities regarding the tenders I had received. The job I mentioned regarding production was later given to a company called Büyük Baskı Merkezi (BBM), owned by the İlbak family. I have no information regarding the relationships and communications during the process of this job being given to this company. After Serdal Taşkın became General Manager in 2019, when I discussed the digital board tender with him, he said that the tender had not yet been opened; I could use these advertising media by paying a fee until the tender was opened. I used these advertising spaces by paying the fee through my company, Panoffect, which I initially established in the name of my son Onur Buğra Subaşı and later transferred to my own name, until the tender was held in 2019," he stated.
"I BECAME UNABLE TO OBTAIN ADVERTISING PERMITS FROM ANYWHERE"
In his statement, Subaşı said, "When the tender process for the digital board came, I asked for help from Serdal Taşkın. He asked me to make an offer of 15 million lira or more. I won the tender by offering 16 million 660 thousand lira as Panoffect. After doing this job for about 1.5 years and completing the installation of 36 digital screens, I transferred it to the Reklamist company under the guidance of Murat Ongun."
About 10 days after this period, I learned that the sales and marketing job was handed over to the Ilbaks. The tender I mentioned normally had a duration of 10 years. Due to Murat Ongun's pressure, I was forced to transfer it after 1.5 years, which actually made me a victim because I had invested a huge amount here. Just when I had not fully realized the return, I had to transfer it for 46 million lira. The transfer took place by offsetting the 46 million lira debt I owed to the municipality. During this process, Murat Ongun and I had several arguments, and our communication broke off for a while. Subsequently, I became unable to obtain advertising permission from any place related to the municipality and its subsidiaries. They even canceled the advertising permit for our large glass-fronted building in Mecidiyeköy and removed some of my parapets. Thus, Murat Ongun established a mechanism that provides regular income to the 'SYSTEM'. " he said.
"I GAVE 5 MILLION LIRA IN THE PARKING LOT IN KAĞITHANE"
Continuing his statement, Subaşı said, "An auction was held on February 14, 2020, regarding the advertising areas in metro stations. Similarly, with the guidance of Fatih Keleş and the organization of the tender by Serdal Taşkın, I won this tender with the Panoffect company. Following Serdal Taşkın's guidance, I offered 15 million lira for this. The companies that made alternative offers were organized by Serdal Taşkın himself. Regarding the metro exit closures, I spoke with the consultant responsible for the metros, Ertan Yıldız, and since we were already managing the station advertising areas, I mentioned that we wanted to undertake such a job due to the high metro expenses. Ertan Yıldız said he could give me this job, but I needed to give him 5 million lira in cash openly; additionally, part of the work needed to be done in collaboration with his company, Anatolia Sign. I handed over 5 million lira in cash to Ertan Yıldız in the parking lot in Kağıthane. At the same time, I sent approximately 40 million lira to the account of Anatolia Sign for the upcoming productions, even though it was slightly above market rates. When I wanted to participate in the tender won by the company Advercity, Serdal Taşkın told me that this tender would be given to Advercity and that I should not offer more than the specified price. In the course of my commercial activities, I have received invoices and cash payments exceeding the job cost from some companies I worked with that produce. We received these invoices by closing them due to our ongoing projects.
"THEY ARE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED 'SYSTEM'"
The advisors of Ekrem İmamoğlu and the municipal bureaucrats and employees involved in these irregular activities are part of an organization referred to as 'SYSTEM'. The purpose of this organization is to ensure Ekrem İmamoğlu wins elections and to gain political power. I have no connection with such an organization. My motivation is entirely related to my own commercial activities. In fact, the Ekrem İmamoğlu, Fatih Keleş, and other individuals I mentioned have used me. All the processes, including the cash transactions I mentioned throughout my statement, are known to Ekrem İmamoğlu. My wife, Gülşah Subaşı, has not been involved in any of the processes I mentioned; she has no connection. She has only been held responsible within the framework of the activities of the company I established in her name, Genç Popülist Medya, due to my tax issues. Although not officially, I am the owner of the company Genç Popülist Medya; I carried out all its operations. My only mistake was putting this company in my wife's name. I have expressed what I know clearly. I want to benefit from the provisions of effective remorse. I absolutely do not accept the accusation made against me as an organization member," he stated.