20.08.2026 14:50
In the "Imamoglu criminal organization for profit" case, businessman Hamit Demir, heard as a witness in court, claimed that 8 million TL was demanded from him during the permitting process for his project in Beylikduzu. Stating, "I had to do it to avoid trouble," Demir alleged that he paid this amount in apartments, checks, and cash, and said the apartments were transferred to Adem Soytekin.
Businessman Hamit Demir, whose testimony was sought in the "İmamoğlu criminal organization for profit" case, made striking allegations before the court. Demir claimed that during the permit process for his project in Beylikdüzü, the municipality side demanded 8 million TL from him, saying, "I had to do it; if I hadn't, I would have faced problems," and alleged that he paid this amount through apartments, checks, and cash. Following Demir's statements, in which he claimed that apartments were transferred to Adem Soytekin as part of the payment, it drew attention that Ekrem İmamoğlu did not ask the witness any questions.
Another striking statement was recorded in the court records during the hearings of the "İmamoğlu criminal organization for profit" case. Businessman Hamit Demir, stating that he stands by his statement given during the prosecution phase, conveyed to the court panel the permit and payment process he alleged occurred in his project in Beylikdüzü. Demir, noting that he corrected some of his previous statements regarding certain dates and names, detailed his allegations about the procedures concerning his project at the municipality starting from 2014.
"I REQUESTED AN APPOINTMENT FROM EKREM İMAMOĞLU"
Demir said that after purchasing the land, which he stated was approximately 45 acres and had numerous liens and legal disputes on it, he began carrying out the procedures. Demir claimed that in the later stages of the process, he obtained an appointment from Ekrem İmamoğlu, the then-mayor of Beylikdüzü, and recounted the meeting he said took place in 2015. According to Demir's claim, he told İmamoğlu that he had purchased the land and requested support for the project's licensing, and it was alleged that İmamoğlu stated he would be assisted.
ALLEGATION OF 8 MILLION TL DEMAND DURING PERMIT STAGE
The most striking allegation in Demir's account concerned the permit acquisition process in 2017. Demir, who said he went to the municipality's revenue directorate, claimed he was informed that he needed to make a payment to the municipality. Demir alleged that a deputy mayor directed him to another person, and in this meeting, he was told that if he made a payment of 8 million TL, he would be supported in the procedures.
"IF I HADN'T, I WOULD HAVE FACED PROBLEMS"
Hamit Demir also expressed in court why he had to make the payment in response to this demand. Stating that his project was ongoing and he needed the procedures at the municipality, Demir claimed he believed he would encounter problems if he did not make the payment. After informing them that he could not cover the entire amount in cash, Demir alleged that an agreement for a total of 8 million TL was reached through a method involving partial apartments, checks, and cash payments, and he then claimed to have obtained his permits and completed the construction.
"THERE WAS A FLOW OF APARTMENTS, CHECKS, AND CASH"
Demir, who said he left the payment process to his company managers following the alleged 8 million TL agreement, claimed that the title deed transfers, checks, and other payments were carried out by the company managers. Demir, who alleged the total amount was 8 million TL, claimed that the payment method involved a flow of apartments, checks, and cash.
"YOU NEED TO TRANSFER THE APARTMENTS TO ME"
Another allegation in the statement concerned Adem Soytekin. Demir said he first met Soytekin because he wanted to get subcontracting work in his project. According to Demir's claim, Soytekin stated that he also did work for Ekrem İmamoğlu and was working intensively, thus showing interest in the job at the construction site. However, it was stated that after the company management decided to work with another subcontractor, Soytekin was not given the work.
Demir alleged that Soytekin reappeared later in the process due to the payment said to be made to the municipality; Demir claimed that Soytekin told him he had been informed that a payment would be made to the municipality and that some apartments needed to be transferred to him as part of this payment. Demir claimed that he initially offered apartments from the relevant construction, but since Soytekin wanted finished apartments, he gave apartments from the Ayışığı Vadi project in the Esenyurt area, and that subsequent title deed transfers and procedures were handled by company managers.
STATEMENTS OF MURAT ÇALIK AND MURAT ONGUN
In his statement, Demir did not accept the allegation that Mehmet Murat Çalık gave him any specific direction regarding Adem Soytekin. Demir stated that Çalık only described Soytekin as a "good subcontractor," arguing that this was not a direction or insistence. Demir also mentioned that in his previous statement to the prosecutor's office, the name Murat Ongun was incorrectly mentioned, and that he had no meeting or encounter with Ongun.
NO QUESTIONS FROM İMAMOĞLU TO DEMİR
After Hamit Demir detailed before the court his allegations of the 8 million TL payment demand, the payment being made via apartments, checks, and cash, and the transfer of apartments to Adem Soytekin, it drew attention that Ekrem İmamoğlu did not ask Demir any questions. It was learned that Demir's statements and allegations in court would be evaluated together with other evidence in the case file.