30.04.2025 15:01
The statements of Zeynep Ongun, the wife of Murat Ongun who was detained in the second wave operation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), have become a topic of discussion. In her statement, Ongun claimed that her husband gave her the rent and deposit money in cash, and it was understood that she covered these payments from the 4.5 million lira that was deposited into her account from Rize.
The investigation into the corruption allegations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and its suspended president Ekrem İmamoğlu is ongoing. The contradictions in the statement of Zeynep Ayten Gözdem Ongun, the wife of Murat Ongun, the Chairman of the Board of IMM Media Inc., who was detained and brought to court after his statement to the prosecutor, became a topic of discussion.
“I RECEIVED IT IN HAND,” SHE SAID, 4.5 MILLION LIRA DEPOSITED FROM RIZE
Zeynep Ongun, who declared her monthly income as 80,000 lira, explained how they lived in a house with a monthly rent of 310,000 lira while making a payment of 4.5 million lira. In her statement to the police, Zeynep Ongun claimed that Murat Ongun gave her the payment in cash, and upon examining her account movements, it was understood that both the rent payment and the deposit were covered by the 4.5 million lira deposited from Rize.
“I EXCHANGED MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S GOLD” SHE SAID
Zeynep Ongun stated that she would pay the mentioned amount with money her husband would receive from Ekrem İmamoğlu, but due to the delay in the money, she exchanged approximately 2 kilograms of gold that was with her mother-in-law at a jeweler in Rize. This statement from Zeynep Ongun contradicted Murat Ongun's claim that "İmamoğlu supported the rent." Despite having safes in two different banks in Istanbul, questions arose as to why the couple kept their gold at her mother-in-law's house in Giresun. Furthermore, according to the prosecutor's findings, it was understood that Zeynep Ongun did not go to Rize on the relevant dates.
“I SOLD HANDMADE PRODUCTS TO ADVERTISING COMPANIES”
Zeynep Ongun stated that she sold jewelry, beads, etc., to advertising companies that worked with Media Inc. in exchange for invoices. The complainant companies claimed that they did not receive any jewelry and that they were forced to send money under the pressure of Emrah Bağdatlı. When asked which cargo the products were sent with, Ongun stated that she did not recognize the products and that a person came and picked them up from her. Ongun also added that she had a shop in Nişantaşı that she had not yet opened.