19.05.2026 14:10
It has been revealed that the "blonde woman" in the footage taken on Tanju Özcan's yacht is Zeynep K. Testifying at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Zeynep K. stated that she went to the boat at the invitation of her friend Demet, known by the nickname "mama," and that Tanju Özcan's driver picked her up from her home. The investigation has also included allegations that the woman named Demet arranged women for influential individuals and obtained financial benefits.
The identity of the "blonde woman" in the entertainment images of Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan with two women on a yacht at Istanbul's Ataköy Marina has been clarified.
While reports received by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crimes Bureau claimed that the boat belonged to a prominent businessperson, it was learned that there was a woman named Demet who procured women for influential individuals on the boat in exchange for financial gain, that she arranged a woman named Zeynep K. for Tanju Özcan, and that Bodrum Deputy Mayor Nadir Ataman was also present on the yacht that day.
KNOWN AS "MAMA" IN THE CIRCLE
In the reports reaching the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was alleged that the woman named Demet, known in the market as "mama," also supplied women to men with whom she had relationships in exchange for financial benefits, thereby securing business connections. The reports also stated that this individual targeted wealthy men, recorded some conversations, and faced serious allegations regarding drug use and immoral relationships.
IDENTITY OF THE BLONDE WOMAN REVEALED
Acting on numerous reports, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office took statements from Zeynep K., who was named in the reports. In her testimony, Zeynep K. confirmed that she was the person in the photo showing them partying with Tanju Özcan on a yacht at Istanbul's Ataköy Marina, and stated that Tanju Özcan personally picked her up from her home at the Anthill Residence with his driver.
"HE SAID THEY WOULD CHAT ON THE BOAT, I ACCEPTED"
In her testimony, Zeynep K. said: "One of the other individuals in the photos is Tanju Özcan, the Mayor of Bolu; the other, whose exact title I don't know, is a person named Nadir Ataman, also involved in municipal work. The third male is a person named Tayfun, whose surname I don't recall. On a date in the same year of 2022 that I don't remember exactly, my friend Demet called me and said these three men were her friends, that they would chat on a boat at Ataköy Marina in the evening, and asked if I would join. I had never seen these three men before. I replied to Demet that I could join their conversation, accepting Demet's offer."
"TANJU ÖZCAN PICKED ME UP WITH HIS DRIVER, WE WENT TO ATAKÖY MARINA"
In her statement, Zeynep K. said: "Demet asked me, 'I'm far away and tired, would it be okay if Mr. Tanju picks you up?' Then she connected us. Subsequently, Tanju Özcan picked me up from my home with his driver. We went to Ataköy Marina together. We boarded a boat at the marina... Later, Tanju Özcan's driver served us food and drinks. There was whiskey on the table. We all drank alcohol and chatted. There was absolutely no other substance."
It was learned that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office deepened the investigation after obtaining detailed statements and information from Zeynep K., and the Organized Crimes Bureau launched a comprehensive investigation into the network alleged in the reports. The incoming reports claimed that the network collected blackmail material regarding various politicians, especially former Yalova Mayor Vefa Salman.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE YACHT ENTERTAINMENT PHOTO
The entertainment images of Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan with two women on a yacht at Istanbul's Ataköy Marina sparked a new crisis in local and national politics; Öznur Çağalı, a Bolu Municipality employee alleged to be the "blonde woman" at the center of the scandal, firmly denied the claims in her statement at the Bolu Provincial Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Branch Directorate.
Çağalı stated: "The woman in this picture is definitely not me. I don't know when the photo was taken or who is in it. Due to the ongoing blackmail case in court where I am the victim, the impression has been created that I am the blonde woman in this picture. I received a lot of backlash from my family and circle, but as I said, I don't know anyone in this picture other than Tanju Özcan."
In the blackmail investigation conducted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the relationship between the complainant/suspect Tanju Özcan and municipal employee Öznur Çağalı was reflected in digital material examinations; contrary to Özcan's claim, after the relationship confirmed by base station reports, Tanju Özcan apologized to his wife during the query of the blackmail case heard at the Bolu 6th Criminal Court of First Instance.