2 more people testify regarding 'money counting' footage at CHP: 'He said it was donation money'

The investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the money counting footage, which was allegedly filmed at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters and shared on social media, continues.

Within the scope of the investigation, in which 7 suspects had previously testified, Melih Morsümbül, an advisor to Maltepe Mayor Ali Kılıç, and Servet Yıldırım, the driver of businessman Hüseyin Köksal, also testified to the prosecutor's office as 'suspects'.

"HE SAID IT WAS DONATION MONEY"

Melih Morsümbül, an advisor to Maltepe Mayor Ali Kılıç, stated the following in his testimony:

''On the date of the incident, Maltepe Mayor Ali Kılıç called me and asked me to go to his location. When I arrived, he was having a meal with people I did not know, and at that time, he handed me a small bag containing a sum of money. He said that the money inside the bag was donation money that he and his friends had collected as part of the donation campaign launched during the process of purchasing the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters building. I did not open the bag to count how much money was inside; I simply took the bag and took it to the given address upon his instruction.

"I HEARD FROM THE CONVERSATIONS THAT IT WAS AROUND 200 THOUSAND LIRA"

Although I cannot remember exactly, I delivered the money bag to the provincial vice president, Özgür Nas. There, they told me that this money would be used in the process of purchasing the provincial building. I left the office alone so the money could be counted; while the money was being counted, I heard from the conversations that it was around 200 thousand lira. They did not give me any receipt, document, or promissory note that could prove I had delivered the money.

In any case, our Mayor, who sent the money with me, did not make such a request of me. I only carried out the instruction given. I have no knowledge of or involvement in the source of the money. As I am a deputy to the Mayor, I simply took the money bag to the office upon the instruction given,'' he said.

"I NEVER RECEIVED MONEY FROM THIS PERSON"

Suspect Servet Yıldırım, in his testimony, stated that he has been the driver for businessman Hüseyin Köksal for approximately 12 years, saying, ''I have known Hasan Hüseyin Şenyurt, who testified in the file as a 'witness', for about 3-4 months through mutual friends from Bahçeşehir. I have no intimacy with him.

I do not know the individuals named Fatih Keleş and Tuncay Yılmaz. At the same time, I do not know Serdal Taşkın, the General Manager of İBB Kültür A.Ş. I never received money from this person in a bag or in any other way, and I did not deliver this money to Yılmaz and Keleş.

"THESE STATEMENTS THAT CAST ASPERSIONS ON ME ARE SLANDER"

Şenyurt stated in his testimony that he recorded my conversations. If such a voice recording exists, it was taken without my consent and is a crime. I am said to have carried money in these recordings; these statements that cast aspersions on me are slander. I do not understand how this person, who has cases opened against him for 'forgery of official documents', 'sexual abuse', and 'sexual harassment', is allowed to appear on television, gain credibility, and introduce himself as a businessman, while making baseless allegations against me. I am innocent; I did not take money from anyone and deliver it elsewhere,'' he stated.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A video was shared on the social media platform X with the caption, “Footage of Fatih Keleş counting stacks of money at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters has emerged.”

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an ex officio investigation into the video footage, which was shared following posts on some social media accounts claiming that "footage of Fatih Keleş counting stacks of money at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters has emerged," in order to reveal the material truth and determine whether there was any crime or criminal element.

Within the scope of the investigation, former CHP Istanbul Provincial President Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Sports Club President Fatih Keleş, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Vice President Özgür Nas, former press advisor to the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters Can Poyraz, Ali Rıza Braka, who allegedly sold the building in question, İmamoğlu İnşaat General Manager Tuncay Yılmaz, and Şişli Deputy Mayor Onur Öksel had testified to the Prosecutor's Office as 'suspects'.

It was also learned that in addition to the 7 suspects, Braka's lawyer, Gökhan Taşkapan, had also testified as a person with knowledge of the matter.

News Source: İHA