20.02.2025 11:32
In the statement made by TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan, who has been placed under a travel ban and judicial control as part of an ongoing investigation, he stated in court, "I am engaged in intensive exports abroad. We export to nearly 80 countries. I travel abroad with our Minister of Trade. We will be traveling to China and America in April-March," and it has been learned that he requested the lifting of the ban.
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Due to the statements made at the TÜSİAD General Assembly, TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan, who was investigated along with the Chairman of the High Advisory Council, Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras, was released with a travel ban abroad and a judicial control decision. It was learned that he requested the lifting of the ban in his statement in court, saying, "I am going abroad with our Minister of Trade. We will travel to China and America in April-March."
EVERYTHING STARTED AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
On February 13, an investigation was launched against TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan and High Advisory Council Chairman Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras due to the statements they made at the association's general assembly, on charges of 'publicly disseminating misleading information' and 'attempting to influence fair trial.'
ARAS GAVE A 3-HOUR, TURAN A 1-HOUR STATEMENT
As part of the investigation, suspects Turan and Aras arrived at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan under police escort to give their statements. Here, suspect Aras gave a statement for about 3 hours, while suspect Turan gave a statement for about 1 hour.
A TRAVEL BAN WAS IMPOSED
After giving their statements at the Prosecutor's Office, the suspects were brought before the duty magistrate with a request for a judicial control measure in the form of a 'travel ban abroad' for the charge of 'publicly disseminating misleading information.' Following their statements, a travel ban abroad and a judicial control decision were issued against Turan and Aras by the court.
JUDICIAL STATEMENTS REVEALED
After their statements at the prosecutor's office, Turan and Aras were referred to the duty magistrate with a request for the application of a judicial ruling for a travel ban abroad on the charge of "publicly disseminating misleading information." The magistrate decided to impose a judicial control measure in the form of a travel ban abroad on Orhan Turan and Ömer Aras. The statements of Turan and Aras during the judicial interrogation were revealed.
"I AM GOING ABROAD WITH OUR MINISTER OF TRADE"
Orhan Turan stated that he repeated his statement given at the prosecutor's office during the judicial interrogation, saying, "I am engaged in intensive exports abroad. We export to nearly 80 countries. I have frequent trips abroad. I am going abroad with our Minister of Trade. We will travel to China and America in April-March. We are working on artificial intelligence. We are trying to bring together Turkish entrepreneurs there. My address is clear; I am a businessman," requesting the rejection of the judicial control request for a travel ban abroad.
"I TRIED TO VOICE THE SENSITIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY"
Ömer Aras stated during the judicial interrogation that he repeated his statement given at the prosecutor's office, indicating that the main theme of his speech was about what they could do for the Turkish economy to advance further, saying, "The language of education and the rule of law, the measures to be taken in the economy, women's rights for the development of our country, the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and many economic and financial issues, I tried to voice the general sensitivity of society by giving some examples for the advancement of Turkey. I did not provide any misleading information to the public in my speech. All approaches and narratives are in the form of interpreting the effects on the economy," he said.
"WE ARE TRYING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE TURKISH ECONOMY"
Aras stated that the speech in question was made with the aim of improving Turkey's investment environment and noted that his address and business have been known to everyone for 40 years, that he has been living in the same house for 33 years, and that he has been working in the same job for 38 years, saying, "I am the Chairman of the Board of Directors of an international bank, QNB. I have been the Chairman of the Board for 15 years. I have been working since the establishment of the bank. I am 70 years old. Since I am at the head of this bank, my contacts abroad are quite intense. I travel to many countries, especially Qatar. There are 15,000 people working in our bank. We are trying to contribute to the Turkish economy. I request that the travel ban not be applied to me," he expressed.
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