Curious defense in 'bribery' trial of AKP mayor: 'It is a coincidence'

The defendants Cönger and M.Y., who are being tried without arrest, and their lawyers were present at the hearing at the Kırıkkale 1st High Criminal Court.

Defendant M.Y. stated that he met Cönger through the late Balışeyh Mayor Hilmi Şen.

Stating that he received a tender from the Keskin Municipality via the Electronic Public Procurement Platform, M.Y. said, "I do not remember how many tenders I received through direct procurement. I did not receive any irregular tenders from the Keskin Municipality."

Regarding the money he sent to Cönger, M.Y. claimed, "One day I spoke with Mayor Şen and he said, 'I bought an apartment, I have trouble with the payment.' He asked me for a loan and said, 'I will take out a loan and pay you back.' I said, 'Okay, but I cannot pay all at once.' The money I sent to Ekmel Cönger is the debt that Şen owed me."

Defendant M.Y. defended himself by saying "it is a coincidence" regarding the fact that most of the money he sent to Cönger coincided with the dates when tender payments were made.

"I DID NOT DO ANY IRREGULAR WORK"

Cönger stated that he had known M.Y. since he became mayor and had known Hilmi Şen for a long time, and said the following:

"I am a disciplined person in my commercial life. Şen had negotiated with someone for a house, and I was there too. I acted as a guarantor for Şen, who bought a house from Ç.Y., and I issued a check for collateral. Later, when Ç.Y. did not want the check and asked for a bank transfer, I sent 2 million liras on behalf of Şen; the receipt is also available. Later, Şen's son delivered part of the debt from the bank and part of it by hand. The remaining 1 million 203 thousand liras were sent in pieces by the contractor M.Y. My only fault is acting as a guarantor and receiving the money from M.Y."

When the presiding judge asked about the allegations in the Court of Accounts reports that irregular tenders were given to M.Y., Cönger said, "I did not do any irregular work, and I would not. The indictment states that 39 tenders were held. Other than that, I do not know; I do not have the possibility to follow them one by one."

POSTPONED TO MAY 11

Following the witness statements and the defense of the lawyers, the court board postponed the hearing to May 11.

The indictment prepared by the Kırıkkale Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Keskin Mayor Ekmel Cönger and contractor M.Y. on charges of bribery had been accepted by the 1st High Criminal Court.