14.02.2026 13:03
In the investigation initiated in Kayseri upon the complaint of former Minister Mehmet Özhaseki, it was alleged that a woman named E.T. extorted 1 billion TL. Although E.T. denied the allegations, the prosecution assessed that there was sufficient suspicion to file a lawsuit. However, following the suspect's expression of remorse and Özhaseki's withdrawal of his complaint, the public case was postponed for 5 years.
Details have emerged regarding the "blackmail" investigation conducted by the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office upon the complaint of former Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki.
69-year-old Mehmet Özhaseki claimed on July 18, 2025, that a 40-year-old woman named E.T. had blackmailed him. Özhaseki stated that he knew E.T. because of a condolence visit he made due to his wife's passing and later attended the opening of E.T.'s women's clothing store with party representatives.
"IF YOU DON'T GIVE 1 BILLION TL, YOUR POLITICAL LIFE WILL END"
According to a report by İsmail Arı from BirGün; Özhaseki stated in his testimony that about a month ago, E.T. sent him a message saying, "I have important documents about you, we definitely need to meet, come alone," and that they met near the Seyit Burhanettin Tomb. He claimed that when E.T. got into his car, she said, "There is a tape about you. I have images, I don't want to reveal them. If you don't give me 1 billion TL, your political life will end. What does 1 billion TL mean to you, half of Kayseri is yours."
"IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, THEY WILL KNOW IT'S YOU"
Özhaseki said that E.T. showed him a video and implied that the man in the video was him, to which he objected. According to his claim, E.T. then said, "There is something called artificial intelligence, there are more things, I have hidden and encrypted these, I distributed them to my trusted friends. If something happens to me, they will know it's you, either you give me 1 billion TL or I will spread these to the whole world, I know those who don't like you and the opposition, I will give the images to them." Özhaseki also stated that E.T. persistently sent messages to her advisor H.K.
"A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD" MESSAGE
H.K., who stated that he has been Özhaseki's advisor for 30 years, also claimed in his testimony that E.T. implied a romantic relationship with Özhaseki in the messages she sent, saying, "I say it again, the place is already a battlefield, everyone is looking for each other's weaknesses... A double-edged sword, this situation will harm both of us. This is Kayseri unfortunately, well, you know... I had said this before, you never took it seriously." He presented the messages and voice recordings to the prosecutor's office.
"I DON'T HAVE A VIDEO" DEFENSE
The suspect E.T. denied the allegations, stating that she did not make any blackmail-related statements and that she did not have any images. Following the examination of the HTS records, it was assessed that E.T. acted in conjunction with her relative B.E.A. B.E.A. also stated that they were relatives and denied the allegations. E.T., who was arrested and learned to have spent about two and a half months in prison, later applied to the prosecutor's office, stating that she wanted to give additional testimony. In her statement dated September 24, 2025, she claimed that she did not have any images related to Özhaseki, expressed regret about the incident, requested a decision of non-prosecution, and if that was not possible, requested the postponement of the trial and the implementation of all provisions in her favor.
COMPLAINT WITHDRAWN, TRIAL POSTPONED
Özhaseki also stated through a petition submitted by his lawyer that he withdrew his complaint after E.T. confessed all the truths, made sincere statements, and stated that his family and child were victims. In the prosecutor's evaluation, it was noted that E.T. and her relative B.E.A. acted in concert to make accusations that would harm Özhaseki's honor and dignity and attempted to gain benefits, and that there was sufficient suspicion to file a case regarding the blackmail charge against them. However, the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office decided on October 17, 2025, to postpone the public prosecution for five years due to E.T.'s expression of remorse, Özhaseki's withdrawal of his complaint, and the fact that the upper limit of the crime required a prison sentence of three years or less.