The Mayor of Büyükçekmece, Akgün, responds to the bundles of money found outside his house: "It's my son's."

03.06.2025 00:11

The statement given by Hasan Akgün, the Mayor of Büyükçekmece, who was detained in the fifth wave operation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), has emerged. Akgün stated that the 58,200 euros, 79,160 dollars, and five one-kilogram silver bars seized during the search at his residence belonged to his son. Akgün said, "My son, Gökhan Emre Akgün, lives on the upper floor of my house. His financial situation is good."

The statement of Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, who was detained on May 31 during the 5th wave operation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) on charges of 'receiving, giving, and mediating bribes' and 'extortion-influence peddling', has emerged.

HE REVEALED HIS WEALTH FROM HIS HOME BY SAYING "IT BELONGS TO MY SON"

Akgün stated that the 58,200 Euros, 79,160 dollars, and 5 one-kilogram silver bars seized during the search at his residence belonged to his son. Akgün said, "My son Gökhan Emre Akgün lives on the upper floor of my house. He conducts his business activities through Ake Yapı, and his financial situation is good."

"I KNOW METİN GÜL, BUT I HAVE NO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP"

Akgün was asked detailed questions regarding the statement given by the complainant Metin Gül. It was recorded that Akgün stated that he knew Metin Gül and his family, saying, "They are a well-known family that has been active in the construction sector for many years. I have had no business or animosity with him."

When asked about Flamingo Site, Akgün stated that he did not remember the process related to the project, but that complaints had reached the municipality through CİMER, and that he had conveyed the issue to the relevant technical deputy mayor due to complaints from citizens that no piles were made for the ground floors. Akgün said, "I asked the Deputy Mayor of Zoning, Nuraydın Sak. Sak stated that according to the ground survey report, the ground is solid and there is no requirement for piles. These reports are prepared by independent experts or universities. The permit process proceeds according to this report." Akgün stated that as a result of the lawsuits filed later, the construction was halted and the legal process continues.

"THE CLAIM OF 25 APARTMENTS IS BASELESS"

Refuting Metin Gül's claim that "25 apartments were transferred to Mayor Akgün or his close circle by Demir İnşaat, which took over the project," Akgün firmly stated, "I know Hamit Demir as an official of Demir İnşaat. After purchasing the Flamingo Site from the landowner and completing the permit processes, they transferred the project to Metin Gül according to their own demands. He stated that he made this transfer in exchange for 4 million TL and 20-some apartments. Neither I nor my close ones have any interest in this project."

"THE PLAN CHANGE WAS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST"

Clarifying the zoning plan change in Gürpınar - Avrupa Caddesi, where the shopping mall construction is located, Akgün said, "In 2004, we increased the zoning coefficient in this area to 2.5 with a council decision. The decision aimed to turn the area into a commercial center. No individual or institution applied for this change. After the plan change, the landowner Mehmet Duruk thanked us and built a girls' vocational high school with 45 classrooms in our city. This school was later opened as 'Hayriye Duruk Girls' Vocational High School.'

"PELİCAN HILL AND PELİCAN HILL RESIDENCE PROJECTS WERE IN A LEGAL PROCESS"

Stating that the claims that he profited from the AVENUE AVM and Pelican Hill projects were not true, Akgün said, "Neither I nor my relatives received any apartment transfer or financial benefit." Akgün stated that the Pelican Hill and Pelican Hill Residence projects were built on a 1000-acre farm owned by the Osman Yeşilgül family. "These projects were given to multiple contractors in exchange for the construction. All official processes of the projects were carried out legally by İSKİ and the municipality. There is no transfer of villas or apartments to me or my relatives," he said.

"METİN GÜL'S CLAIMS ARE BASELESS"

Akgün responded to Metin Gül's statement that "Hasan Akgün uses intermediaries and does not meet directly with anyone," saying, "As a mayor elected for seven consecutive terms, I meet face-to-face with every citizen who has a problem. It is not possible for me to do business through intermediaries."

In his statement, Akgün also mentioned a meeting held with some CHP officials at Sarıyer Municipality, stating that the subject of the meeting was the physical suitability of a structure that could be used as a provincial headquarters building, and that he was present there as a listener.

ALLEGATION OF A '35 MILLION TL DONATION' TO THE MUNICIPALITY'S BASKETBALL CLUB

Akgün was also asked about the 1 million 572 thousand TL donation made by Murat Öztiryaki to the Büyükçekmece Municipality's basketball club. Akgün said, "I do not know a person named Murat Öztiryaki. He may know me. I have no information about why he made this donation. I did not make any request from him."

Regarding the donation made by Erol Gürsoy to the basketball club, Akgün said, "I do not know him, and I do not know why he sent money. I did not make any request."

In response to questions about Kemal Şahin and Şahinler Holding's villa project in Büyükçekmece, Akgün said, "Kemal Şahin is a landowner in the area and decided to build villas after the earthquake. I offered him to sponsor our basketball team. He provided support for our team for advertising purposes." Akgün emphasized that the 40 million TL sponsorship agreement was entirely legal and based on advertising.

Regarding the allegation that suspect Vahit Karaarslan was asked for 35 million TL for the municipal basketball team, Akgün replied, "I have no information about this donation request. I also have no information that Ömer Kazancı tried to make contact regarding this matter."

"WE BOUGHT THE APARTMENT IN FLORYA AS A FAMILY"

In response to Mustafa Keleş's claims that "an apartment was requested in Akgün's name," Akgün stated that the apartment in Florya was purchased in 2004, at the beginning of the project, in the name of his daughter Yurdagül Akgün, and that the payment was made by the family.

Regarding the allegations in the statement of witness Hamit Demir, Akgün responded to questions about the Demir Life project, saying, "This is not an allegation that concerns me." Stating that he does not interfere in the business of his son and son-in-law, Akgün said, "If they had asked me, I would have told them not to seek work."

He used the expressions "I did not make any request regarding this matter. I am not aware of the donations for the kindergartens."

Akgün clarified the claim made by Mert Boysanoğlu that "a request for donations to kindergartens was made on behalf of the Büyükçekmece Municipality regarding the villa project," stating, "I did not make any request regarding this matter. I am not aware of the donations for the kindergartens."