Testimony of arrested CHP Ankara Provincial Chair Erkol emerges: 'They were not given free of charge'

The İZBETON investigation, conducted by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, examined allegations that benefits were obtained through the S.S. Business People Gaziemir Construction Cooperative in the Gaziemir district.

Ümit Erkol and 8 other suspects, who were detained in an operation on charges of embezzlement, qualified fraud, forgery of official documents, and neglect of supervisory duties, were arrested by the court to which they were referred after their procedures at the police station.

It was learned that in his statements to the court, Erkol, who was arrested as part of the investigation, argued that he had not signed any official documents and that it was impossible for him to have committed forgery.

"I received no money other than the attendance fee"

Stating that he was a member of the board of directors at the cooperative in 2022, Erkol said, "The only income I obtained from the cooperative after becoming a member is the 10,000 TL attendance fee. There has been no situation where I received money from or gave money to any place doing business with the cooperative in any other way.

Although I was on the cooperative's board of directors, I did not obtain a signature circular in my own name, and I did not sign any tenders or official documents belonging to the Gaziemir cooperative. There is not a single signature of mine in question.

It is impossible for someone who has not signed any documents to commit forgery of official documents. When I sold my cooperative share, the transaction was carried out through a bank, and the necessary explanations were written; it is also clear from the MASAK report, which states that this transaction took place through the bank, that there were no suspicious movements," he said.

"The villas were not given free of charge"

Stating that the claims by the complainant cooperative lawyer that there were no villas in the project did not reflect the truth, Erkol said, "It is clear that there was no change in the project and that it was only a name change. It is also seen from the photos presented that there was no change in the project.

It has been known since the first day that there were villas; these villas were not given free of charge, and I purchased them as a result of a payment plan, just like the other residences.

Anyone walking in off the street would also purchase the villa I bought as a result of a payment plan. There is no such thing as me allocating it specifically for myself. I have not had any commercial relationship with any person related to the cooperative," he stated.

"Not even 1 TL of missing money was mentioned"

Noting that all of the cooperative's revenues were provided through banks and that no cash was received, Erkol said, "In the expert report, there is an allegation that there was an irregularity regarding the cooperative's payments to subcontractors.

I do not know this subcontractor, and according to the protocol, any transaction related to the cooperative is carried out with the permission and signature of İZBETON.

Whether this production was carried out and whether it was financially appropriate is investigated by an independent auditor, the Tepekule firm. Payments are made upon this. I handed over the management in June 2024, and we presented the balance sheet.

The management we handed over to conducted a very meticulous investigation and even asked for the payment of a plastic flower. The incoming management, which conducted such a detailed and meticulous investigation, did not present any deficiency to us. We were not told about even 1 TL of missing money in any way. I do not accept the accusations made against me. I want to be released to be tried without arrest," he said.