04.06.2025 15:10
The statement of Ertan Yıldız, who became a whistleblower in the corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and was released under judicial control with 'house arrest', has emerged. In his statement, Yıldız said that a bribe of 1.2 million dollars given by a company was delivered by former CHP deputy Aykut Erdoğdu to Fatih Keleş, who is said to be the treasurer of Ekrem İmamoğlu, in Saraçhane.
The investigation into the corruption allegations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and its suspended president Ekrem İmamoğlu is ongoing. The statement of the suspect Ertan Yıldız, who was released under judicial control measures in the form of 'house arrest' due to benefiting from the effective remorse provisions, has emerged. Yıldız is the Chairman of the IMM Council's Participation Organizations Commission.
"AYKUT ERDOĞDU STATED HE WOULD RECEIVE A DONATION OF 1 MILLION DOLLARS"
In his statement, suspect Yıldız said, "After the 2019 elections, a request came to İSTAÇ. There was a request for an amendment in the contract of a company that built the biometallization facility in Şile. They called Mustafa Canlı (former General Manager of İSTAÇ) regarding this request. Mustafa Canlı called me. Although I do not remember exactly, he said there was pressure on the contract regarding a technology change, capacity increase, or extension of the duration. I asked whether it was legally appropriate and whether there would be any loss to his company. He replied, 'It may be beneficial for the company, and there may not be a legal issue.' I then said, 'If that's the case, why are you not making the decision and bringing the issue to me?' He mentioned that many politicians had called him, that this issue came from politics, and that it needed to be submitted for the approval of President Ekrem İmamoğlu. A few days after this conversation, Aykut Erdoğdu called me and said he wanted to come to see me regarding this matter, and I accepted. A few days later, he came to see me and conveyed that the company in question was a very large firm, that they engaged in international trade, that they had made significant contributions to the CHP, and that assistance was needed, and that he would also receive a donation of about 1 million dollars. I told him that I could not make a decision on this matter and that it needed to be discussed with the President," he said.
"HE CAME WITH A BAG FULL OF MONEY"
Suspect Yıldız, who stated that they had a face-to-face meeting with İmamoğlu a week after the conversation, said, "In the meeting with Ekrem İmamoğlu, he told me that he did not see any problem with the request of the company in question, and that if there would be no issue from the company and participation perspective, it could be approved. I then told Mustafa Canlı, 'The President does not see a political issue; the decision is yours, but you can approve it.' Aykut Erdoğdu called me and said he would come to where I was. After I told him I was in Saraçhane, Aykut Erdoğdu came to me with a bag, and Fatih Keleş came later. Although both of them did not speak much, they mentioned an amount like 1 million 200 thousand dollars. Fatih Keleş asked Aykut, 'Is it okay?' After Aykut said 'okay,' he took the bag and left. When Fatih Keleş opened the zipper of the bag, I saw that there were dollars inside. These events occurred towards the end of 2019 or 2020," he stated.
ERDOĞDU DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS
Former CHP deputy Aykut Erdoğdu, in his statement to the prosecutor's office, responded to the allegation of 1 million 200 thousand dollars by saying, "The claim that I went to the place where Fatih Keleş and Ertan Yıldız were in the IMM Saraçhane building with a bag full of money and delivered 1 million 200 thousand dollars to Keleş is not true. There is animosity between Ertan Yıldız and me; we have never reconciled."
Erdoğdu also stated that he had reported Yıldız to Ekrem İmamoğlu twice, asserting that he had no financial relationship with the company in question and that he facilitated communication between the parties for the public good.
JOINT BASE QUESTIONED
Regarding the allegations related to 1 million 200 thousand dollars, when asked about the joint base given one day before the transfer agreement signed with Ertan Yıldız and Fatih Keleş on June 3, 2020, Erdoğdu said:
"I visit Ekrem İmamoğlu or the general secretary at the IMM building two days a week. It is normal for me to have a joint base with these individuals. Since Ertan Yıldız and Fatih Keleş are advisors to Ekrem İmamoğlu and have their offices in a side room of İmamoğlu, it is natural for me to have a joint base with them. The claim that I went to the IMM building with a bag full of money and delivered the money as part of the allegation is contrary to the ordinary course of life. I request the camera footage regarding this matter."