03.08.2026 12:56
In the WhatsApp messages that were included in the prosecutor's statement of journalist Cem Küçük, who was arrested on charges of 'publicly spreading misleading information' and 'blackmail', it was seen that after sending a message to a person saying 'The broadcast is entirely in your favor right now,' he said, 'Now you can give a pair of shoes as a gift.' While Küçük claimed this was a joke, in another message he admitted that he received shoes as a New Year's gift.
The prosecutor's office statement of journalist Cem Küçük, who was arrested within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, has emerged. The statement included notable declarations on many topics, from the claims he used in television broadcasts to money transfers, from gift correspondences to the Adnan Oktar connection.
“THE BROADCAST IS ENTIRELY IN YOUR FAVOR” MESSAGE AND THE SHOES CORRESPONDENCE
Within the scope of the investigation, WhatsApp correspondence between Cem Küçük and Turgut Koç was also included in the file. In the correspondence, it was determined that after Küçük told Koç he would evaluate the claims about him on the broadcast, he sent the message “The broadcast is entirely in your favor right now.” In the same conversation, it was determined that Küçük said, “Now you can gift me a pair of shoes,” and Koç replied, “You are my dear.” Cem Küçük, however, claimed in his prosecutor's office statement that these statements were purely jokes and that he did not receive any shoes.
“WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GIFTS?” HE SAID AND GOT SHOES
Another striking section in the file was the correspondence with Mehmet Cemil Acar, the former department head of the State Airports Authority (DHMİ). According to the prosecutor's office findings, Cem Küçük sent the message “What happened to your gifts?” to Mehmet Cemil Acar on January 10, 2025. In the ongoing correspondence, the shoe size, the store for pickup, and leaving the product at the cash register were discussed. It was determined that Küçük later reported receiving the shoes. In his prosecutor's office statement, Cem Küçük admitted receiving the shoes but argued that it was merely a New Year's gift and was not given in exchange for any news or transaction.
THE “I RELAYED IT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL COMPLEX” MESSAGE IS ALSO IN THE FILE
In another correspondence with the same person, it was seen that some claims within DHMİ were conveyed to Cem Küçük, and it was said, “Take a look at the issue, can you do something about it, brother?” It was determined that Küçük replied, “I relayed it to the Presidential Complex.” In the prosecutor's office statement, Cem Küçük confirmed this correspondence but said he gave this response not for any personal benefit but to help solve the problem conveyed to him.
“I NEVER READ THE MASAK REPORTS ABOUT BERKAY GEZGİN”
During the prosecutor's office interrogation, Cem Küçük was reminded that he said on his television program that money was transferred from İBB subsidiaries to Berkay Gezgin's account and that this was included in MASAK reports. Küçük, however, said he never read the said MASAK reports and that his reference to the report on the broadcast was because the topic being discussed at that time was related to MASAK reports.
Küçük also argued that the perception that approximately 1 million lira was transferred to Berkay Gezgin every month was not correct, and that he meant a total of approximately 1 million lira.
HE SAID HE RELAYED THE “2 MILLION DOLLARS FOUND” CLAIM WITHOUT VERIFICATION
In his prosecutor's office statement, Cem Küçük was also asked about his statements on the Medya Kritik program regarding “2 million dollars found in bales” at Fatih Keleş's home.
Küçük stated that he used this information based on a news article in another newspaper and later saw that the news was not true when he examined the indictment. He said he then corrected his statement and apologized.
DEFENSE OF “DEBT AND ORGANIZATION FEES” FOR 27 SEPARATE MONEY TRANSFERS
The prosecutor's office also brought up that there were money movements totaling 537,800 lira in 27 separate transactions between journalist Tahir Sarıkaya and Cem Küçük.
Küçük stated that he had no commercial partnership with Sarıkaya and first explained the money transfers with a past debt relationship.
Later, when asked about the secret witness's claim that “Tahir Sarıkaya handles Cem Küçük's money affairs,” he said this time that the transfers in question were due to “accounts receivable/payable matters or organization fees.” However, he did not present any documents regarding which organization or which debt they pertained to.
MONEY CAME 14 TIMES FROM A PERSON HE CLAIMED NOT TO KNOW
The prosecutor's office also asked Cem Küçük about a total of 99,000 lira sent to his account in 14 separate transactions by a person named Sezer Sezginer. Küçük, on the other hand, stated that he did not know the person in question and did not know why money was sent to his account. It was notable in the statement that he could not provide any explanation for money repeatedly coming into his account from a person he claimed not to know.
HE COULD NOT PROVIDE DOCUMENTS FOR PAYMENTS FROM CYPRUS
During the prosecutor's office interrogation, 17 separate payments sent to Cem Küçük's account by Cyprus-based Diyalog Gazetecilik also came to the agenda. Küçük argued that this money was paid for translation services but admitted that there were no contracts, invoices, receipts, or correspondence regarding these works. He also claimed that the payments made by China-based GB Times Global were due to his commentary activities in previous years.
HE ADMITTED TO PAID TRANSLATION OF ADNAN OKTAR'S BOOKS
In his prosecutor's office statement, Cem Küçük was also faced with claims regarding his connection to the Adnan Oktar criminal organization. Küçük rejected the claims that he carried out activities in favor of the organization. On the other hand, he admitted to translating Adnan Oktar's books coming from abroad together with his team for a fee. He also confirmed that he met Adnan Oktar at an iftar program in 2012 and appeared live once on A9 television.
HE DID NOT SHARE HIS PHONE PASSWORD
In the statement, Cem Küçük declared that he did not give the password of his mobile phone when he was detained and did not want to share the password during the prosecutor's office interrogation either.
The investigation file also included the secret witness's claims that Cem Küçük made broadcasts in favor or against for money, received money through Tahir Sarıkaya, and exerted pressure through broadcasts. Cem Küçük, on the other hand, rejected all these claims, arguing they were slanderous.
It was learned that the investigation continues regarding money movements, digital materials, and other evidence, while it was stated that the claims in the file are evaluations at the investigation stage, and criminal responsibility will be finalized as a result of the trial.