CHP's Öztürkmen makes striking allegations of irregularities regarding asphalt tender

CHP Gaziantep Deputy Hasan Öztürkmen claimed that Şehitkamil Mayor Umut Yılmaz has been holding meetings in Ankara and Gaziantep to join the AK Party following his resignation from the CHP. The emphasis on "August 14" during the Municipal Council meeting was evaluated as a factor supporting these allegations.

Öztürkmen recalled that during the time Umut Yılmaz was in the CHP, he faced accusations of "corruption" and "rigging a tender" from AK Party officials. He stated, "An investigation was launched against Yılmaz and 14 others on January 20, 2025. On January 30, a criminal complaint was filed by the AK Party Şehitkamil District Chair, and the files were merged. However, immediately after Yılmaz left the CHP on April 8, the prosecutor's office decided on May 23 that there was no ground for prosecution for two individuals. One of them was Umut Yılmaz. It is clear that the investigation was closed rapidly after he resigned from the CHP."

Öztürkmen also raised significant allegations regarding the approximately 1.9 billion TL asphalt tender conducted by the Şehitkamil Municipality Directorate of Technical Affairs following Yılmaz's resignation. He stated that in the tender in question, the company with the lowest bid was eliminated, and the contract was awarded to the AVOS firm, which was ranked 4th. He expressed that this step resulted in a public loss of 194 million TL, which could rise to 500 million TL with price adjustments.

The objection filed by the CLKA company to the Public Procurement Authority (EKAP) included allegations that AVOS was given full points despite scoring errors, off-system interventions, inappropriate work completion certificates, and missing documents. Öztürkmen stated that this tender was clearly in violation of Public Procurement Law No. 4734.

On the other hand, it was also alleged that Veysel Reşitoğlu, the owner of AVOS Group, is the brother of Selman Reşitoğlu, known as the "tender king," and that the family company has close ties with Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek. Attention was also drawn to claims that the Reşitoğlu family receives high-value government tenders, pays low taxes, and has photos with certain AK Party figures on private jets.

Touching on the details of the process, Öztürkmen said, "The investigation launched on January 20 was rapidly closed on May 23, following Yılmaz's resignation on April 8 and the conclusion of the suspicious tender on April 29. The tender became official on July 2."

Recalling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's words, "Those involved in corruption cannot take part in the AK Party," Öztürkmen said, "On the contrary, those with corruption allegations join the AKP and emerge from the party as if they have been cleared." Öztürkmen also warned local AKP officials, saying, "If you accept Umut Yılmaz into your party, you will be complicit in this crime," and invited prosecutors and civil inspectors to examine the tender.

The statements were shared with the public at a press conference held at the CHP Gaziantep Provincial Headquarters. Provincial Chair Reis Reisoğlu, Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç, and provincial executives also attended the meeting.

News Source: 12punto