Detained in the morning: Statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Rezan Epözdemir

It has been announced that two separate investigations have been launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into lawyer Rezan Epözdemir, who was detained in Istanbul this morning. According to the statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Epözdemir was detained on charges of bribery, aiding the armed terrorist organization FETÖ/PDY, and political and military espionage.

The statement noted, "Our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is conducting an investigation into Rezan Epözdemir within the scope of two separate investigation files," and emphasized that the detention took place at 05:45. It was reported that digital materials were also seized during simultaneous searches conducted at Epözdemir's workplace and residence.

BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS

Significant allegations have emerged within the scope of the investigation conducted into Rezan Epözdemir. In line with the testimony of witness A.D., it was stated that there are three separate acts in which Epözdemir is alleged to have accepted bribes. It was noted that two of these were within the scope of a power of attorney relationship, while another was related to a release procedure that took place in 2021.

According to the allegations, Epözdemir and C.Ç. received a $150,000 bribe in exchange for a release procedure in 2021. It is alleged that $75,000 of this amount was collected by C.Ç. from witness A.D.'s address on July 7, 2021, and taken to Epözdemir. HTS (Historical Traffic Search) analyses indicated that C.Ç. and Epözdemir shared a common cell tower location on July 8, 2021, which is alleged to be when the bribe was delivered.

PROMISSORY NOTES AND WHATSAPP RECORDS SEIZED 

During the searches conducted as part of the investigation, two promissory notes showing the relationship between Rezan Epözdemir and C.Ç., one for 1.56 million liras and the other for 930,000 liras, were seized. It was stated that the issuance dates of these notes coincide with the dates when C.Ç. and Epözdemir shared a common cell tower location. Furthermore, messages confirming the receipt of the $75,000 bribe were identified in WhatsApp records dated July 7, 2021.

DENIAL FROM EPÖZDEMİR: "I WAS NOT GOING TO ENGLAND"

Following his detention, Rezan Epözdemir made a statement on his social media account to respond to allegations that he was "detained while about to leave for England."

In his statement, Epözdemir used the following expressions: "It has been stated in some places that I was detained while about to leave for England. This claim does not reflect the truth. Last night, I returned to Istanbul from Bodrum with my wife and children. We were going to go to England for a week for my eldest son's language school. My plane tickets were ready, but I was detained at my home around 05:50 in the morning. Therefore, the posts claiming that I was detained while about to leave for England are manipulative and malicious."

News Source: 12punto