15.01.2026 14:20
Derya Çayırgan, a former volleyball player alleged to have had an affair with Ekrem İmamoğlu, was detained in the İBB investigation. In her statement to the prosecutor's office, Çayırgan stated that she visited İmamoğlu at the Mariot Hotel 3 or 4 times when he came to Ankara in 2023.
The statement of former volleyball player Derya Çayırgan, who was detained as part of the "Imamoğlu organized crime group" investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, has emerged.
Here is Çayırgan's statement to the prosecutor;
"I encountered the person named Ekrem İmamoğlu, whom you asked me about, while walking in Taksim in 2020 or 2021 (during the pandemic period). I addressed him as 'Hello Mr. President, how are you?' I mentioned that I was a national volleyball player and that I played for Galatasaray. We chatted in the crowd. I expressed my desire to visit him at his office.
"HE SENT US TO A HOTEL WITH THE NEIGHBORS"
One of the people next to him gave me a phone number and said, 'Call from here when you want to come.' I called to visit in the years 2022-2023. On the date of the appointment I was given, I visited him at the İPA facility in Florya. In 2023, my house in Bahçelievler was demolished. We asked for help from Özgür Çelik, who was the district president of Bahçelievler at that time and also my friend, due to our victimization. He sent my family and me to a hotel along with the neighbors living in the building. After a while, they placed my family in the İBB facilities.
"I CALLED IMAMOĞLU BY FINDING HIS PERSONAL PHONE"
Since I played at PTT in Ankara, I returned to Istanbul after a while. I stayed here with my family for 3.5 months. During my stay here, I constantly searched for a house. During this process, I found Ekrem İmamoğlu's personal phone number and called him. He did not answer the phone at first, but later got back to me. I thanked him.
HE MADE A JOB OFFER
During this time, I visited him. We talked about sports. He asked me, 'Would you like to play at İBB?' I told him that I couldn't play because they were in a lower league, but I could play if they moved up to a higher league. He asked me what I would do after my career ended. I said I had no plans. He then asked if I would like to work in İBB's sports management after I retired from volleyball. I said, 'Why not after I retire from volleyball.'
"HE SAID 'CALL ME WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING'"
As I was leaving, I was introduced to Mustafa Akın, who is referred to as his right-hand man. I told him I was pleased to meet him. Mr. Ekrem said that I could call him when I needed something.
VISITED AT THE HOTEL
Towards the end of 2023, I transferred to Antalya. During my time playing in Antalya, I never met Ekrem İmamoğlu face to face. I visited him because he was staying at the Marriott Hotel. I do not know the individuals named Fatih Keleş, Tuncay Yılmaz, and Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, whom you asked me about.
I met Mustafa Akın, as I mentioned at the beginning of my statement, when I was told to contact him if I could not reach Ekrem İmamoğlu during my visit. In my statement, I mentioned that when I called Ekrem İmamoğlu and could not reach him, I called Mustafa Akın. Other than that, I have had no other contact with Mustafa Akın. I called him when I could not reach Ekrem İmamoğlu.
MASAK REPORTS
The findings from the MASAK investigations you asked me about are due to my converting my savings into foreign currency and depositing them in the bank. Before 2021, I did not deposit the money I earned in the bank, but after 2021, I deposited some of the money I saved by converting it into foreign currency into my bank account. I evaluated this money in different ways at the bank. This will be seen in the MASAK reports.
The 50,000 Euros I deposited in cash into my account on 16/06/2023 is also from these savings. On 15/06/2023, I sent 20,000 TL to Kameroğlu İnşaat to buy a house, and on 16/06/2023, I sent 32,000 Dollars and 62,570 TL. The explanation for the 62,570 TL was written as 'we are earning'; it was completely related to the national volleyball team process; it was an expression of joy, and I had no other intention.
In order to buy the house, I met with Adem Kameroğlu three times to negotiate a discount. I bought this house for a total of 4,100,000 TL at the price we agreed upon, based on the currency of that time. I took possession of the deed on 19/06/2023. I deposited the 50,000 Euros I had in my account to buy this house. As I mentioned, this money is my own; it is not money given to me by others."