11.03.2026 17:12
On the third day of the corruption trial against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, former CHP Deputy Chairman Özgür Karabat's driver, Sırrı Küçük, made a defense statement. Küçük said, "I see my daughter once a month for 45 minutes. Seeing her for 45 minutes feels like 45 seconds. When the police came to my house for the detention, I unintentionally gave my phone password. Because I am that confident in myself. Could everyone here who is providing a basis be guilty or have facilitated bribery? I was detained because I provided a basis at Başak Petrol."
In the corruption case against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), 402 defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, who are among the 105 detained, are appearing before the judge for the third time in Silivri. Businessman Bulut Aydöner and the driver of Özgür Karabat, Sırrı Küçük, made their defense in the hearing.
The investigation into the 'corruption' allegations against Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul and arrested, was completed, and an indictment of 3,809 pages was prepared on November 11, 2025. In the indictment, Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose name is mentioned as the 'Organization Leader', is accused of committing crimes such as 'Establishing an Organization for the Purpose of Committing Crimes', 'Bribery', 'Money Laundering', 'Fraud to the Detriment of Public Institutions and Organizations', 'Recording Personal Data', 'Seizing and Disseminating Personal Data', 'Concealing Criminal Evidence', 'Obstructing Communication', 'Causing Damage to Public Property', 'Receiving Bribes', 'Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information', 'Extortion', 'Laundering Assets Derived from Crime', 'Interfering with Tenders', 'Deliberately Polluting the Environment', 'Violating the Tax Procedure Law', 'Violating the Forestry Law', and 'Violating the Mining Law'. İmamoğlu is facing a request for imprisonment ranging from 828 years and 2 months to 2,352 years for 142 actions.
"I SEE MY DAUGHTER FOR 45 MINUTES A MONTH"
Sırrı Küçük, the driver of former Deputy Chairman Özgür Karabat, stated, "First of all, I want to start my statement by declaring that the act of 22 did not occur and that I do not accept the accusations against me. Sir, I want to mention a situation. You must have seen this situation as well. My lawyer and I identified this on November 11, 2025. The issue we identified is that a person named Ömer Güngör gave a statement on June 12, 2025, but before that, neither in any statement nor in any information note does the name Sırrı Küçük appear anywhere. I would like to ask you in your presence. Why were 3-4 police officers friends detaining me at 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025? Let's say there was a detention order, and I was taken. Why was I held for 3 days at the Vatan Campus? I was held without any accusation against me. Why did I stay in Silivri No. 3 Prison for 165 days? I had a 4-year-old daughter that day. Why did I have to lie to my 4-year-old daughter? Why did I have to explain why Silivri Prison is like a police school? Why did I have to cry at every visit? I think I am legally in the same framework as the person named Ömer Güngör. While they have been spending quality time with their children and families for about 270 days, I have been longing for my family. Here, as we waved, we were considered guilty. Why? I see my daughter once a month. I see her for 45 minutes once a month. Seeing her for 45 minutes feels like 45 seconds. I have been detained for 285 days since that day. But thank God, after 285 days, I am at least ready to express myself in your presence. My wife and I got married in 2018. Our daughter was born in 2021. Her name is Masal. Until May 31, we did not tell a single lie to our daughter, Mr. President. Like every mother and father, we tried to explain what is true and what we would do. The child is small, she understands as much as she can, but we also struggled to explain," he said.
"I GAVE MY PHONE PASSWORD MYSELF"
Küçük continued his defense, saying, "When the police knocked on our door in the morning, my wife and I said, 'What happened this morning, is something wrong?' The police officers said they had a detention and search warrant. Of course, I didn't read it. I am not an ignorant person who would not trust the state's police. I said, 'Friends, you are doing your duty. We are also parents. I ask you, our child is sleeping inside. She is 4 years old. Please carry out all your duties without scaring or waking her up. I let you in. They asked for my cell phone. Before they could even say the password, I said, 'Officers, the password is this phone.' Because I am that confident in myself. I have nothing to fear. When the friends went to the report, they had written the last letter of the password incorrectly. I saw this. I specifically said, 'Sir, look, the password is wrong, correct it. So that they don't give you a hard time at the Vatan Police Department tomorrow,'" he stated.
"I WAS DETAINED FOR SAYING I GAVE A BASE AT BAŞAK PETROL"
Sırrı Küçük said, "The main issue is Başak Petrol. Başak Petrol is a business located on the road. Başak Petrol is right at the entrance of the İkitelli Organized Industrial Zone, which is the largest industrial area in Istanbul, containing 39 industrial sites. If you want to enter the İkitelli Industrial Zone, you must pass by it whether you come from Edirne, Ankara, or E5. Başak Petrol is about 2 kilometers away from our office, the accounting office. Even when Mr. Özgür is not in Istanbul, I provide support to the friends at Mr. Özgür's accounting office in the field and in the office. The location of Başak Petrol is the only route we can take to the remaining 12 districts of the 3rd region, except for our Arnavutköy district. Why is Arnavutköy mentioned? Because when we go from behind our office, we get there faster; we don't use that route. We don't need to go to North Marmara. The route is the one where Arnavutköy is located. Sir, how should we ask about the area where Başak Petrol is located? Now, I am being accused of sending goods to Başak Petrol. I am accused of receiving bribes and facilitating bribery at Başak Petrol. Millions of citizens and vehicles pass through Başak Petrol every day, just like me. There are thousands of public transport routes here. Since 2018, I have given base records millions of times, let alone thousands; this is not contrary to the ordinary course of life. Can everyone who gives base here in Silivri be guilty? Could they have facilitated bribery? I was detained for saying I gave a base at Başak Petrol. Ömer Güngör's statement is full of contradictions. He says, 'I called Sırrı Küçük, I will give you 5 million.' I say, 'Let's meet at a common point.' Sir, Başak Petrol is 2 kilometers away from my office. Are we so foolish that we would take a bribe under so many cameras and surveillance? There is no record of Ömer Güngör calling me in his HTS records. Let him produce the document, and I will lie down in Silivri like a boss," he said.
THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED TO TOMORROW
The hearing was adjourned to Thursday, March 12, at 10:00 after the defenses were taken. The defendants' defenses will continue on the fourth day of the hearing.