Testimony of arrested Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler before the judge obtained

As part of the investigation conducted by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, allegations of irregularities regarding certain tenders at the Beykoz Municipality have come to the fore. 

Within the scope of the investigation, a total of 22 people, including former Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, municipal officials, and representatives of companies participating in the tenders, were taken into custody. 13 people, including Köseler, who was alleged to have "directed Beykoz Municipality Chief of Staff Veli Gümüş to ensure that tenders were awarded to the same companies," were arrested by the court.

The testimony of the arrested Köseler before the judge has been obtained.

According to the report by ANKA, In his testimony taken by the Beykoz Duty Criminal Court of Peace, Alaattin Köseler was asked about the witness statements that were the subject of the allegations. The names of the witnesses, which were not disclosed during the police and prosecution stages despite the requests of Köseler's lawyers, were revealed during the defense before the judge.

Stating that he did not know any of the other suspects who were representatives of companies that participated in or submitted bids for tenders held within the municipality, Mayor Köseler said, "I did not even speak with these individuals in my office; I was forced to meet some of them during the detention process." Köseler argued that he was not involved in any tender as alleged and that he did not commit any irregularities.

"I BELIEVE THE WITNESSES ARE SLANDERING ME"

Explaining that the municipality previously had 25 directorates and that this number has increased to 31, and that there are approximately 2,300 employees in the municipality, Köseler gave the following statement:

"It is out of the question for me to check every single job one by one. I do not accept the adverse points in the witness statements. I believe the witnesses are slandering me because of changes in their duties and locations. The allegations of witness Yıldız Güneş are completely fabricated; I never tore up or discarded any company's bid. Witnesses Yıldız Güneş and Erdal Usturbeyli were previously responsible for the tenders held in our municipality. When witness Yıldız informed me after a while that she would not conduct the tenders, we removed her from that unit and assigned her to a different one; subsequently, she transferred to Çekmeköy Municipality upon her own request. She even asked me to intercede for this transfer to take place, and I called the mayor and asked him on her behalf."

As for the other witness, Duran Bülbül, I could not understand how he gave statements regarding the tenders, so to speak. He is a professor of finance, and I thought he understood tenders. I do not accept the statements of the other witnesses either; no public loss has occurred due to any action of mine. I did not make any threats such as 'the tender must be given to a certain company, otherwise I will fire the employees.' These are completely fabricated things. When there was a disagreement between Duran Bülbül (consultant) and Veli Gümüş, they are slandering me by involving me in the matter, as I was the one who appointed Veli Gümüş to his position. Since I work very intensely, I am not in a position to deal with every issue. I do not accept the accusation leveled against me. I request to be tried without arrest and to be released."

REQUEST FOR TRIAL WITHOUT ARREST FROM HIS LAWYERS

Köseler's lawyer, İsmail Emre Telci, stated that his client has no connection to any criminal organization and that the accusations of bid-rigging are technically impossible. Lawyer Telci requested that Köseler be tried without arrest or released under judicial control, stating, "A trial cannot be conducted with allegations not supported by an official report."

Another of Köseler's lawyers, Çiğdem Kezer, argued that the witness statements were given with political motives. Stating that "all of the witness statements are contrary to the truth," Kezer noted that there is no concrete evidence in the file that her client was involved in the tender.

CHIEF OF STAFF GÜMÜŞ: "I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN SLANDERED"

Beykoz Municipality Chief of Staff Veli Gümüş, who is among the defendants in the case, also stated in his defense in court that he had no interference in the tender processes. He said that he believes witness Duran Bülbül wanted to direct him, but slandered him when he did not accept his demands.

Gümüş rejected the accusations against him, saying, "I did not pressure anyone to direct tenders to certain companies. The witness statements are completely fabricated."

News Source: 12punto