Past testimony of abducted Kültür A.Ş. Deputy General Manager Karaal: I am not a member of the organization

In his police statement, Erhan Karaal said, "I am not a member of any organization and I have not committed any crime. For this reason, I do not wish to benefit from the provisions of effective remorse. I have been serving as the financial affairs manager of Kültür A.Ş. for 5 years. I did not participate in tenders held by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality for the purchase or sale of products and services. I participated as a financial member in many tenders organized by Kültür A.Ş., one of the subsidiaries of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality," he had stated.

Karaal was questioned by police regarding 260 million 755 thousand 555 TL in public loss

In his police statement, it was explained to Karaal that the advertising space in Beşiktaş, which belonged to Universal Medya—a company where Sedat Kapıdağ is an official—and which had been permitted prior to October 2019, was not allowed to be used by the municipality, citing the Istanbul Advertising, Announcement and Promotion Regulation. It was further stated that the company's billboards were dismantled and removed by the municipal police, that this practice was not applied to other companies, that advertising spaces between Mecidiyeköy and Gayrettepe were allowed to be used by the relevant parties upon payment of ecrimisil (damages for unauthorized use), and that the same practice was carried out in many parts of Istanbul.

It was stated during the testimony that illegal instructions and arbitrary practices were carried out with companies that made illegitimate deals with IMM companies Kültür A.Ş. and Medya A.Ş., and that illegal advertising applications were permitted on billboards in buildings and construction sites where it was impossible to obtain permits, upon the instructions of the IMM Mayor and through the illegitimate instructions of advisor Murat Ongun, Ertan Yıldız, former Kültür A.Ş. General Manager Serdal Taşkın, and Deputy Secretary General responsible for municipal police Murat Yazıcı, and that no penalties were applied.

It was explained at the police station that illegitimate permits, illegal protocols, and non-existent advertising jobs were used to pay irregular funds, that ecrimisils were collected, that Kültür A.Ş. and Medya A.Ş. were used as a cover for irregularities, and that this caused a public loss of 260 million 755 thousand 555 TL + VAT, and that unfair profits were provided to company owners.

To the question, "Explain the action in detail, what are the roles of the individuals and what is your role in the action?" Karaal replied, "I work as the financial affairs manager at Kültür A.Ş. I, along with the 2 chiefs working under me, follow the financial terms of the commercial contracts made by Kültür A.Ş. After a contract prepared by the relevant unit passes through the signature of the manager in the relevant unit and the general manager, it is approved, and the approved contracts come to the unit where I serve as manager in order to follow their financial obligations. I do not have the authority to approve these contracts. I only follow the financial obligation part of the approved contracts. I have no knowledge or connection regarding the incident. I know about this incident because the aforementioned referral report was sent to Kültür A.Ş., although I do not remember the exact date. Other than this, I have no observation, knowledge, or connection regarding this matter," he had answered.

Karaal stated in his police testimony regarding the 7 allegations directed at him that he had no involvement, saying, "I do not accept the accusations against me. The actions in question are not within my duties and job description."

On the other hand, it was learned that Karaal's defense has not yet been taken in the Ekrem İmamoğlu Criminal Organization trial because he is a defendant without arrest.

News Source: 12punto