Antalya Metropolitan Municipality case: Muhittin Böcek's defense revealed

A total of 41 defendants, including Muhittin Böcek, his son Mustafa Gökhan Böcek, former Antalya Provincial Police Chief İlker Arslan, Fazlı Ateş, and Mehmet Okan Kaya, are being tried in the hearing held at the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court.

The indictment prepared as part of the investigation conducted by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was accepted by the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court, and a public lawsuit was filed. The first hearing of the case began today. While Muhittin Böcek, İlker Arslan, Fazlı Ateş, Gökhan Böcek, and Mehmet Okan Kaya attended the hearing in the courtroom, relatives of the detained and non-detained defendants, officials from the CHP Headquarters, CHP Antalya Deputies, and Antalya Metropolitan Deputy Mayor Büşra Özdemir were present in the courtroom. Among the suspects, N.E. and O.M., for whom arrest warrants have been issued, as well as suspect U.K.Y., did not attend the hearing.

Muhittin Böcek, who was suspended from his post by the decision of the Ministry of Interior, stated in his defense in court that he lost his father when he was 13 years old and that he could not visit his father's grave yesterday for the first time in 51 years, and included the following statements:

"For the first time, I could not go to my father's grave; I lost my father when I was 13, and yesterday was the 51st anniversary. I became the Mayor of Konyaaltı in 1999; my dream was to be a mayor during the 100th anniversary of the Republic. Six months after we took office in 2019, the President invited all metropolitan mayors to the Presidential Complex. We said we had a debt of 6 billion 180 thousand, we talked about the loan, and 200 million in credit was granted. Then the pandemic period came, I was away from my duty for 1 year due to my illness, then we went through painful processes like the Manavgat fires and then the earthquake."

"I DID NOT MAKE ANY OF MY RELATIVES RICH, I DID NOT COME TO OFFICE TO ENRICH A RELATIVE"

Stating that 1,129 tenders were held during his term as the Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Böcek emphasized that he did not participate in the tenders and included the following statements: "After the tenders pass through the municipality's audit, a chief civil inspector comes; we never had any problems regarding a tender. I have been serving in Antalya as an official from the opposition party for 24 years. I did not make any of my relatives rich, I did not come to office to enrich a relative. Our budget this year is 84.5 billion, and I will continue to protect this budget as if it were my honor. In 2024, the list of indebted municipalities was posted, and no debt of the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality was reflected. 19,180 people work in the municipality, we pay for all of their labor; I did not sell out anyone's labor."

"I WANT TO LIVE"

Stating that "my late father was the landlord of Çağlarca village," Böcek pointed out that their financial situation was good. Stating that he did not need any income from the municipality financially, Böcek said, "We are hosting 27 million; I did not give any opportunity for blackmail or setups, and I never caused any public loss during our work. I have been taken to the hospital 10 times; I have never taken a medical report by using my illness as an excuse throughout my life. When I was arrested on July 5, I was using 12 medications; now I use 22. It is said that we are entrusted to Turkish physicians, but I could not go to the university to be treated. I want to live. I have various health issues related to sleep apnea, heart, asthma, prostate, and my kidneys. I entered prison on July 5 with my head held high and my honor intact, and I am now entering my 9th month. I want to receive treatment. I know I will be acquitted of all these charges, and I request my release."

"I HAVE NO EYE ON ANYONE'S PENNY"

Defending himself regarding the requests for invoice payments to Y.Y., A.Y., and S.K. through his son Mustafa Gökhan Böcek and S.T. for the work done by the company named Anadolu Reklam within the scope of the 2024 Local Election propaganda activities, Muhittin Böcek said, "I did not have any direct or indirect instructions; I was working day and night during the election period, and I did not see anyone in that intensity. In all political parties, parties form commissions; they did it voluntarily, and I had no knowledge or involvement. I reject the issue of unjust acquisition of property; I have no eye on anyone's penny, my declaration of assets is clear, I do not accept the issue of unjust acquisition of property."

"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CRIME IS DIRECTED AT ME"

Speaking about the purchase of a luxury duplex apartment for Zeynep K., Böcek said, "I repeat the statement I gave to the police. Regarding the purchase of a house for Zeynep, she lent money to Y.G.; it is a debt relationship between the two. Why am I being accused because of this act? I do not understand why the crime is directed at me, I do not accept it."

Defending himself against the accusation that he committed the crime of extortion by coercion regarding the purchase of a duplex villa on behalf of M.A.B., the common child of Mustafa Gökhan Böcek and Zuhal B., and that Mustafa Gökhan Böcek participated in the crime in the capacity of an aider, Böcek said, "I have absolutely no instructions to S.A.; the message sent by S.A. has been associated with me. No one's rights have been violated; I do not understand why a meaning is being derived from this. It is not possible to conclude that I committed the crime of extortion. How could it be strange for the head of financial services to give me information? My way of working with all department heads is in this direction; I support them all. I protected the municipality's money like my own, down to the last penny. I absolutely do not accept that the payments based on personal trade with my son Gökhan are associated with me. I have seen B.Ç. 2-3 times until today, I have never seen M.Y.; there is no instruction or promise from me."

Evaluating the act of purchasing a vehicle in the name of M.K., a house in his own name for her to reside in, and receiving cash and a watch for M.K. from individuals named B.G. and A.A., Böcek said, "A vehicle was purchased from A.A., with whom I have had a friendship for over 30 years, on behalf of Ms. M.K. The meeting was held in my office; it was agreed to pay 1 million 800 thousand TL for the vehicle. I handed over the gold in my safe to her son; I said that the vehicle sale price would be sent. There is a real buying and selling relationship in the middle; no crime has been committed. As you know, I am a Yörük child; is it in our tradition to have someone else buy something you will buy for your life partner? When I gifted the watch to Ms. M., I told her that the invoice was not taken and that she should not use the watch for now; it was found that way in her house. I have no request for the watch I gifted to Ms. M. or for any renovations; I do not pressure business people, and I never request an indirect benefit; I reject all accusations." Speaking about the sale of an apartment to him by H.A. in Altıntaş Neighborhood of Aksu district, Böcek said, "We shook hands on 1 million 650 thousand TL; I gave 25 thousand dollars for 650 thousand, and we shook hands that we would handle the remaining 1 million between us. This situation consists only of trade between two people. My ancestral lands and my asset declarations will be seen day by day; someone with such assets does not need these."

Defending himself against the act of taking over a luxury apartment in a site that I. E. claimed belonged to him and a field-status property in the Kuzdere location of Kemer district, Böcek included the following statements:

"Since 10 years have passed, I do not remember these issues; I have no information about how the license was obtained; this house is not my house; I do not know how it was provided by I. E."

Regarding the purchase of three shops for himself from another site and two shops for other municipal employees at cost, Böcek said, "After we won the 2019 local elections, a citizen who took the floor during our visit to Güneş Neighborhood stated that the previous mayor promised transformation and collected the construction machinery from the neighborhood when he was not elected. When the previous term mayor did not fulfill his promises, I gave instructions; I wanted the process to be completed as soon as possible. It passed unanimously from our municipal council, and the tender process was completed. S.K. is someone I have known for 15 years and whose son's wedding I officiated; the allegation of slowing down the work is completely baseless. I never gave instructions to S.T. like 'want a few apartments'; I would never ask for such a thing from my friend of 15 years. S.T. should have rebuffed him and asked why you are making such a request; as a result, I have no connection with these properties."

Regarding the act of transferring the financial benefits subject to the crime from business people who have official business relations with the metropolitan municipality to a person named Mehmet Okan Kaya, who does advertising and organization work, Böcek said, "I am someone who is at the same equal distance to everyone in all organizations; sponsorship is provided through volunteering all over Turkey. I do not get involved in these matters, it is not within my knowledge; the claim that I ask for help is completely untrue. During the election process, people want to support the candidate they support. It is unthinkable that I would act as if I were imposing this existing reality on a business person."

Making a statement about his contact with police officer O.A., Böcek said, "I know O.A., his wife works in the municipality; as a mayor, I have been subjected to slanders. He may have provided information to support me; I have had no other relationship."

Answering the question directed at him about former Police Chief İlker Arslan, Böcek said, "I have never had any instructions for İlker Arslan."

THREE SEPARATE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BÖCEK

In the file, a trial is requested for the suspended Muhittin Böcek on charges of "extortion by coercion," "unjust acquisition of property," and "laundering of assets derived from crime." The detained defendant Mustafa Gökhan Böcek is facing charges of "influence peddling," "unjust acquisition of property in the capacity of an aider," and "extortion by coercion in the capacity of an aider." It is also requested that former Antalya Provincial Police Chief İlker Arslan be punished for "laundering of assets derived from crime" and "unjust acquisition of property" within the scope of chain crime provisions. It is requested that the defendants Zuhal B. and Zeynep K., who are being tried without arrest as part of the investigation, be punished for the crime of "laundering of assets derived from crime."

26 SEPARATE ALLEGATIONS EXAMINED IN THE FILE

In the 702-page indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office, a legal evaluation was made regarding 26 separate allegations regarding various transactions and financial movements in the municipality. The indictment included allegations that some advertising expenses were billed to business people within the scope of propaganda activities carried out during the local election process, that some real estate and vehicles were transferred to third parties, and that benefits were provided in exchange for high-amount money and foreign currency transfers, as well as zoning and licensing procedures. The indictment also included an assessment that there was insufficient evidence to file a public lawsuit for some of the allegations examined.

"PROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL" ASSESSMENT

A striking assessment regarding Mustafa Gökhan Böcek was also included in the indictment. The prosecutor's office evaluated that although Böcek had no official income, he registered some assets in the name of third parties or tried to show them as legitimate income through various financial transactions in order to hide the source of the benefits he obtained. For this reason, it was requested that Mustafa Gökhan Böcek be punished as a "person who has made crime a profession" within the scope of Article 58 of the Turkish Penal Code.

MASAK AND HTS DATA AS EVIDENCE IN THE FILE

In the indictment, the prosecutor's office stated that the evaluations regarding the events were made by examining party statements, MASAK financial data, HTS analyses, title deed records, financial audit reports, and institutional correspondence together.

CONFISCATION REQUEST FOR 258 MILLION LIRA ASSETS

It was stated that cash deposits amounting to approximately 170 million liras were seized during the searches and financial audits conducted within the scope of the investigation. In addition, the confiscation of assets with a total value calculated at approximately 258.6 million liras, including 10 apartments, 5 vehicles, 5 workplaces, one watch, and one mobile phone, was requested.