The statement of Ekrem İmamoğlu's advisor, Mehmet Çakılcıoğlu, has emerged.

28.04.2025 18:52

The statement given by Mehmet Çakılcıoğlu, the former Deputy Secretary General of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) and advisor to Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was detained in the corruption investigation targeting the IBB, has emerged. Çakılcıoğlu, who stated, "I did not participate in any tenders belonging to the IBB," denied the allegations that a public loss of 260 million was caused and that unfair profits were provided to the company owners.

After the arrest by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the corruption investigation initiated against suspects, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), continues. The charges include "being a leader of a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "bribery," "qualified fraud," "illegally obtaining personal data," and "interfering with a tender."

IMAMOGLU'S ADVISOR'S STATEMENT REVEALED

Following the detention order issued for 53 suspects as part of the investigation, the operations carried out by the Istanbul Financial Crimes Investigation Branch teams in Istanbul, Ankara, and Tekirdağ resulted in the capture of 52 suspects, whose procedures at the police are ongoing. The 27-page statement given by Mehmet Çakılcıoğlu, the former Deputy Secretary General of IMM and advisor to İmamoğlu, to the police of the Financial Crimes Investigation Branch has emerged.

"I DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY TENDER CONDUCTED BY IMM"

Çakılcıoğlu stated that his monthly income was 175,000 lira. He expressed that he did not wish to benefit from the provisions of effective remorse. When asked about his resume, he explained that he served as the Deputy Mayor of Beylikdüzü between 2014-2019, worked as the Deputy Secretary General for 11 months at IMM in 2019, and is currently continuing his work related to organized industrial zones and tradesmen's chambers at IMM. In response to the question of whether he participated in tenders conducted by IMM for the purpose of purchasing or selling products and whether he was involved in the processes, Çakılcıoğlu replied, "I did not participate in any tender conducted by IMM."

TOLERATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OF ADVERTISING SPACES

Çakılcıoğlu was asked about the complaint petition, the transfer of money to a third company, and the findings made by the inspectors, police, and expert committees regarding the unauthorized use of advertising spaces. Accordingly, the complainant Sedat K. stated in the complaint petition that an advertising area in Beşiktaş, which was permitted before October 2019, was not allowed to be used by IMM, citing the "Istanbul Advertising, Announcement, and Promotion Regulation," and that the advertising boards belonging to the company were removed by the municipal police, indicating that this application was not made to other companies. The complainant explained that instead of removing the advertising announcement in Kadıköy by the IMM police, a false document was prepared stating that "no application was encountered," and later, the cover was removed, allowing unauthorized advertising elements to remain in place.

CLAIM OF "260 MILLION 755 THOUSAND 555 LIRA UNLAWFUL GAIN"

The complainant noted that the advertising areas between Mecidiyeköy and Gayrettepe were used by collecting ecrimisil from the relevant parties and that the same application was made in many places in Istanbul. He claimed that "illegal instructions were given to companies that made illicit transactions with IMM companies Kültür AŞ and Medya AŞ, and arbitrary practices were carried out. It was stated that advertising boards on constructions and buildings, for which it is not possible to obtain permission according to the relevant regulation, were allowed to be used with the unlawful instructions of the IMM President, advisor Murat Ongun, Ertan Yıldız, former General Manager of Kültür AŞ, and Murat Yazıcı, the Deputy Secretary General responsible for the municipal police, and that no penal sanctions were applied. It was claimed that Serdal Taşkın, Salih Subaşı, and the owners and managers of companies such as BVA, SEV Medya, 3. MECRA, KENTVİZYON, Vizyonkent, and Panoffect were in collaboration, that unofficial permits, illegal protocols, and non-existent advertising jobs were paid unlawfully, that ecrimisils were collected, and that Kültür AŞ and Medya AŞ were used as a cover for irregularities, thus causing a public loss of 260 million 755 thousand 555 lira and VAT, and providing unlawful gain to the company owners."

"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO FOLLOW EACH TRANSACTION SEPARATELY AND BE INFORMED"

In line with these findings, Çakılcıoğlu was informed that "you are responsible for the actions of delaying the permission processes, complicating them, collecting unlawful ecrimisil fees by the Real Estate Management Department, transferring money to a third company after the illegal collection of money by Kültür AŞ and Medya AŞ, and tolerating the unauthorized use of advertising units." He was asked, "Please explain whether any money was transferred to the Young Populist Media company regarding the tender process of the products subject to the actions read to you above, and whether an inspection was conducted after the tender."

Çakılcıoğlu, stating that the Real Estate Management Department was not under his authority during his term, noted: "Most of my term coincided with the pandemic period. During this period, due to rotational work and pandemic measures, longer processes than usual were experienced; however, there was no situation, especially regarding the disruption of transactions. Due to the large number of units under my supervision and the workload, it is not possible for me to follow each transaction related to every department separately and be informed. As a senior manager, I see and quickly approve the documents that have been approved by the directors and department heads."

DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS

Çakılcıoğlu denied the allegations of transferring money to a third company after the illegal collection of money and tolerating the unauthorized use of advertising units.