04.04.2025 00:11
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance responded to the claims made by the CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding MASAK. In a statement from the ministry, it was emphasized that the ministry's governing bodies were not aware of the reports prepared by MASAK in advance and that there was no involvement in the process in any way.
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance responded to the allegations made by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR MINISTRY AUTHORITIES TO KNOW ABOUT MASAK REPORTS IN ADVANCE" The statement noted that Özel continues to make serious and unfounded allegations against Minister Şimşek, emphasizing that it is not possible for the ministry's management authorities to know about the reports prepared by MASAK in advance or to intervene in the process in any way.
"PREPARED REPORTS ARE DIRECTLY SENT TO REQUESTING JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES" The statement pointed out that this issue was clearly expressed in a previous announcement made to the public by MASAK, stating: "The prepared reports are sent directly to the judicial authorities that request them, without being presented to or approved by any authority other than the MASAK Presidency. It is not possible for the ministry's management authorities to know about this process in advance or to intervene in any way. In this context, the accusations made against our Minister, the ugly expressions used, are completely unacceptable and do not align with the decorum of the state and the ethics of politics."
WHAT DID ÖZEL SAY? Speaking at a press conference held at his party's headquarters, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel claimed that a deputy chairman from the MHP sent a message to journalist Sinan Burhan stating that Ekrem İmamoğlu would be arrested even before the MASAK report was released.
Özel stated: "Sinan Burhan, on March 11, eight days before the March 19 coup, was a guest journalist on a television program. Live on air, he said, 'The headline of the night has arrived. Don't ask me to reveal my source, but Ekrem İmamoğlu will be arrested before the holiday.' He is counting what will happen there. A journalist colleague asks, 'Are you sure of your source?' He replies, 'I am sure, it is a politician.' It later turns out that he is a deputy chairman from one of the parties in the People's Alliance. After that, they hold meetings asking, 'Why didn't the public believe us?' They say, 'We should never have gotten into diplomacy,' a significant group says. 'We shouldn't have gone after all of them at once, we should have only talked about corruption.' The day the MASAK report was requested and the assignment was made was March 10. The day it was delivered was March 17. Even before the MASAK report was released, the deputy chairman from the small partner knows that he will be arrested before the holiday and sends a message to Sinan Burhan. Mr. Sinan should open it and show it. I know who it came from. Mr. Sinan should say, 'No, it didn't come from him.' Let them deny the SMS traffic and WhatsApp traffic between them. Can this nation believe you? Is it possible? Isn't there an institution called HSK? Doesn't this institution have an inspector? Doesn't it have a supervisor? Isn't there an assignment? Isn't someone going to ask Sinan Burhan? Isn't someone going to turn to the judge and say, 'How does this happen before the MASAK report arrives?' Aren't those phone records going to be checked? For example, let them call me, ask me, and I will tell them who it is. He should also look at these messages. They won't deny it anyway."