Claims of 'new witnesses' in investigation into CHP congress

Following remarks by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calling the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, held on November 4-5, 2023, where Özgür Özel was elected chairman, 'dubious', and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stating, "This bothers me. The party needs to be cleansed of corruption," the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into allegations that "votes were cast in exchange for money" at the CHP's 38th Congress.

According to AA, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has sent instruction letters to chief public prosecutor's offices in other provinces to identify individuals residing outside of Ankara, and has issued writs to relevant institutions for a detailed investigation into the financial transactions of names mentioned in witness testimonies.

According to information received, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has taken the statements of 4 people as witnesses to date.

CLAIMS OF 'NEW WITNESSES'

In this context, it was learned that there are new witnesses who will come to the Ankara Courthouse to provide statements, and that instruction letters have been written to chief public prosecutor's offices in other provinces to identify individuals outside of Ankara who have knowledge of the incident.

It was noted that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued writs to relevant institutions for a detailed investigation into the financial transactions of names mentioned in witness testimonies, and that investigations are continuing regarding allegations of benefits other than money offered in exchange for voting for a specific candidate (such as getting relatives hired in municipalities or being made a municipal council candidate).

It was reported that after these investigations, the process will move to taking statements from suspects, and that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office will decide whether to prepare an indictment after the allegations are investigated and evidence is collected.

It was stated that if an indictment is prepared, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office will notify the Civil Court of First Instance, and if the evidence does not support the allegations, a decision of non-prosecution will be issued.

Additionally, it was learned that in the lawsuit filed by former Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savaş at the Ankara 31st Civil Court of First Instance with a request for an interim injunction, the court issued an interim decision rejecting the request for an interim injunction to "remove the party administration from office," but that the court will make its final decision on the merits once the evidence is collected.

It was noted that there is no confidentiality order in the investigation and no secret witnesses, and that the file can be examined by the CHP party headquarters' lawyers upon request.