23.02.2026 16:54
The trial of Aziz İhsan Aktaş, involving 200 defendants, continues. The defendant Taner Çukadar, who served as a driver during Rıza Akpolat's term as district chairman and is currently out on bail, stated in his defense, "The greatest pressure on us was exerted by Akpolat. After Aziz İhsan Aktaş testified as a whistleblower, he came to visit me in prison and asked me to take the accusations upon myself." Çukadar also added, "Akpolat would even pay his ex-wife's alimony from my bank account."
In the case of Aziz İhsan Aktaş, the defendant Taner Çukadar, who worked as a driver during Rıza Akpolat's term as district chairman and was released after being arrested under the effective remorse provisions, stated, "Rıza Akpolat has equated my child with street gangs in his defense in court and targeted him. I will file a criminal complaint regarding this. Although Akpolat claims that we are 'slanderers, informants, and gave statements under duress,' the greatest pressure has come from Akpolat. The way I gave my statement to the prosecutor was shaped by Akpolat's lawyers," he said.
Following the arrests of the defendants, including Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, the released Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, and the reinstated Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, who were alleged to be part of a profit-driven criminal organization led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, the testimonies of 200 defendants are still being taken regarding the indictment prepared for organizing tender processes through bribery. Today's hearing began with the defense of the unarrested defendant Harun Tuzcu, who worked as a driver at Beşiktaş Municipality.
"I DIDN'T SEE MONEY IN THE SUITCASES, I SAW CLOTHES"
In his defense, defendant Tuzcu stated that he worked as a driver and acted according to the instructions given, saying, "The jobs I did are not specialized, they are just transport jobs. I may have taken money to a television channel under the instruction of Emirhan Akçadağ, but I don't remember exactly. I transferred money to the accounts that were told to me. My job was generally to take care of Rıza Akpolat's family. I would bring them somewhere and take them back. I didn't see any money in the suitcases, I saw clothes. When I was taken into custody, I answered all the questions. I did not get involved in anything that would tarnish my reputation," he stated.
"I WAS SIGNING UNDER DIRECTION"
Another unarrested defendant, Mahmut Çınar, who defended himself in court, said, "Aziz İhsan Aktaş was the owner of the companies BARKA and Bilginay. There is no commercial relationship between us. We were signing documents without examining or looking at them. I was signing the signatures I had made under direction. I did not know that these signatures were for payment requests. I also do not know if payments were made," he said.
"MY SON AND I'S PSYCHOLOGY WAS AFFECTED DUE TO THE INVESTIGATION"
Defendant Merve Kuz, a staff member of Beşiktaş Municipality Support Services, who defended herself in court, stated, "I was a commission member in 3 tenders. I did not do anything contrary to the regulations; I was signing documents inadvertently as part of my duty. I have no knowledge about the companies and officials. I do not accept the accusations against me. This investigation has affected my son's and my psychology," she said.
Defendant Serdar Ocak, who defended himself, said, "I am being held responsible for two separate actions in the indictment, but I was only responsible for one duty. If I had acted with Aziz İhsan Aktaş, I would have had a broad and extensive network. Such a situation does not exist. I request that the meeting minutes be added to the file," he stated.
"I WOULD HAND OVER THE MONEY TO AKÇAĞA AND ÇUKADAR"
Defendant Mehmet Korkmaz, who worked as a driver at Beşiktaş Municipality, stated, "I was detained for 7 months and was released. I request a verdict of acquittal against me. The money that came to my account was given to me in cash; I would deposit it into my account and distribute it to the relevant people. I would hand over the money to Emirhan Akçadağ and Taner Çukadar," he said.
"HE CAME TO VISIT ME IN PRISON AND ASKED ME TO TAKE THE ACCUSATIONS ON MYSELF"
Defendant Taner Çukadar, who worked as a driver during Rıza Akpolat's term as district chairman and was released under the effective remorse provisions, stated in his defense, "Rıza Akpolat is a distant relative of mine; I was his driver when he was the district chairman. Rıza Akpolat has equated my child with street gangs in his defense in court and targeted him. I will file a criminal complaint regarding this. Although Akpolat claims that we are 'slanderers, informants, and gave statements under duress,' the greatest pressure has come from Akpolat. The way I gave my statement to the prosecutor was shaped by Akpolat's lawyers. They wanted me not to give a statement, and for the lawyers to make a declaration on my behalf, but the prosecutor acted before them and took us into custody. After Aziz İhsan Aktaş gave a statement as an informant, he came to visit me in prison and asked me to take the accusations on myself. Isn't this the real manipulation, the real pressure? The lawyer assigned to me by Rıza Akpolat said he wanted to resign. I spent 8 months in prison due to Akpolat's slanders. My 80-year-old father, who has heart disease, had his house in the village raided. In June, the process became more complicated. Akpolat and his team wanted me to remain silent; they were afraid of me speaking and pressured me. From the beginning of the operation, the main target was to protect Akpolat. No one else's family was considered important. Only Akpolat's family was protected," he said.
"HE EVEN PAID HIS EX-WIFE'S ALIMONY FROM MY BANK ACCOUNT"
In the continuation of his defense, defendant Çukadar stated, "Akpolat asked me to register the house registered in the name of Okan Övet to Enza Company and to pay 16 million lira in Övet's name. I did that. Okan Övet is Akpolat's childhood friend. I did not carry out any transactions while hiding myself; I had no personal interest in the transactions. As for the various payments made to drivers and family members, they would make various expense payments from my account for Akpolat and his family. Akpolat even paid his ex-wife's alimony from my bank account. I sent money to Pınar Uzun at Akpolat's instruction. Rıza Akpolat had asked us to sell an Audi brand vehicle one day. We put the vehicle for sale but could not sell it. Akpolat came to us and said, 'You couldn't manage to sell a vehicle; Aziz İhsan Aktaş will buy the car.' The vehicle was sold to Aziz İhsan Aktaş. We went to the notary for the sale," he said.