05.04.2025 09:30
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) President Ekrem İmamoğlu's advisor Murat Ongun, in a statement made from the prison where he is being held, responded to allegations that he pays rent exceeding his income. Ongun stated that despite having the right to stay in IBB housing, he waived this right at İmamoğlu's request and rented another house. He also expressed that he receives financial support from İmamoğlu.
The advisor to the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested as part of a corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and the Chairman of MEDYA AŞ, Murat Ongun, broke his silence. Responding to questions from Ali Macit of Sözcü from the prison where he is held, Ongun made statements regarding allegations that he paid rent exceeding his income.
"I MUST HAVE LOST MY MIND"
Ongun stated that during Süleyman Soylu's tenure as minister, he investigated everything about him, saying, "So many reckless enemies are roaming around me, and I will give them the opportunity because of my rent, right? I must have lost my mind. First of all, my and my wife's past savings and incomes are sufficient for this rent. I also had the right to stay in the İBB Dormitory. I am talking about a detached house with a garden. In 2019, our president, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, said, 'Let the civil servant friends stay here, and you don't request it.' So, I rented another house."
THREW THE BALL TO İMAMOĞLU: HE WAS GIVING ME MONEY
Stating that his and his wife's income was sufficient to pay this rent, Ongun continued by expressing that he received financial support from İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, saying, "Since that day, our President Ekrem İmamoğlu has supported me financially. I am sharing this information with the public for the first time with the approval of our President. Actually, it is a private matter between two people, but the attacks filled with lies and slanders forced me to make this statement."