First statement from Mahiroğlu, for whom an arrest warrant was issued: Truth walks slowly

Following the allegations made by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who was arrested on charges of being a criminal organization leader but released after becoming a whistleblower, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Mahiroğlu and issued an arrest warrant.

Cafer Mahiroğlu responded to the investigation, which includes the charge of 'rigging a tender', via his social media account.

"FABRICATED FALSE STATEMENTS AND SLANDER..."

Ever since the day I bought Halk TV, they have not stopped slandering me.

I have been residing abroad for 35 years. The work I have done is clear.

It seems that being the owner of the people's television, Halk TV,

Defending democracy, rights, and the law, objecting to wrongs, and fighting against corruption has a price.

I am being accused based on the fabricated false statements and slanders of someone I have never met and have never seen in my life.

I am aware of what is being attempted. Truth walks slowly, but it will surely pass the lie one day.

Those who spread slander will also be buried under their own lies. I still want to trust that the judiciary in this country is independent and fair.

SPOKE ON LIVE BROADCAST

Mahiroğlu, who made his first statement after the decision on his social media account, made his second and comprehensive statement by connecting to "Halkın Haberi" (The People's News), hosted by Ekrem Açıkel on Halk TV.

Stating, "It did not surprise me to receive such news while we were experiencing our grief" regarding the passing of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, Mahiroğlu explicitly stated that he did not know Aziz İhsan Aktaş, saying, "We have never come together in any setting. You know how it is, you are with some people and even if you don't know them, you are in the same environment and at least shake hands. We do not know this person. If we had met somewhere, I would at least say we are acquainted. He is a person I have never seen in my life."

"IF IT WEREN'T FOR HALK TV, I WOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS"

Pointing out that Aktaş spoke in his statement using phrases like 'he did this', 'he did that', Mahiroğlu said, "These are, of course, not about me, not about my name; if it weren't for Halk TV, I would not be experiencing these things. It is out of the question for such a thing to be associated with me. All my accounts and the finances of Halk TV are very clear. Since the day we bought it, it has been checked and reviewed many times by MASAK reports. Where our capital came from is known both by Turkey and by all those who need to know."

"I TRUST THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE TRUTH WILL SURELY COME OUT"

Mahiroğlu continued his statement as follows:

"So, if I have been involved in a tender, where have I been? I don't even know what the tender is. I have known Murat Ongun for 20 years. But I don't know any of these people, and I don't know what to say. I trust the justice system; the truth will surely come out.

I see some people, trolls disguised as journalists, doing their job. They are saying things like there is evidence, that a trustee will be appointed. I mean, what can I say about trusting them... I just wonder how we raised so many people.

I definitely do not know him. Even when I read his statement, he implies that he doesn't know me either. It is clear that I have been forced into this situation. But I don't know with what intent, for what purpose, or why he said such a thing. But the truth has a habit of coming out sooner or later. This is a move against Halk TV. A move against the silencing of Halk TV.

Other than that, I cannot think of anything else. One wants to speak very clearly, but ultimately this is my country, the law of my country. It reaches a point where it gets stuck in our throats, we cannot say it, but have some conscience... At least let there be something. If you are creating a story, let the story have a foundation. There is no foundation here either. He says intervention, by intervening... Even if there were an intervention. There is no such thing, but even if there were. How do these comments emerge from this, how do they turn into this? I guess I should say Halk TV is really doing its job well.

The boss of Halk TV is a person committed to the interests of the country, someone who does not compromise on injustice or lawlessness in any way. The friends working at Halk TV are the same. We say what we see.

It is not possible for them to make the patronage of Halk TV do this. As I said, this is not something directed at me. Because I have been doing business in this country for 35 years. I do it all over the country. I have not interfered in any business for 35 years. Did I interfere today? This is a situation created against Halk TV through me.

But I always say this, the law... Ultimately, whatever you say, it speaks with documents. In the end, these documents will eventually come to light. As long as you can prove it, the law works. As long as you cannot prove it, it does not go beyond what trolls and some lie machines say.

Now I am listening to it like this... It's terrible stuff. The comments made by people who define themselves as journalists of this country... The comments are terrible. Yes. The things these same people said 7-8 years ago were the same. They are saying the same thing today.

My friend, the owner of Halk TV has no shadow of doubt on him. If there is, this country has MASAK, it has the tax office, it has the law. Put it out there. A liar, a person of uncertain background whom I have never seen in my life, says 'He rigged the tender'. Which tender? I don't even know which tender it is. I mean, what did I rig in which tender? What does he mean by rigging? Did I win a tender? What did I do? If I won, where is my company? Where is the money? I mean, how did these things happen? My name is being dragged into this in a way that no one even looks at any of these.

Our viewership rates are visible, they are known. Because ratings go to the necessary places every morning. This, of course, has an effect. But this should also be thought of this way: 80 percent of the television viewers in this country watch Halk TV. I am not saying this, the ratings say it.

A channel watched like this should not actually be worthy of this treatment. The dynamism of this country... It voices the problems of this country. It means we are doing the right thing, that we are being watched by so many people.

I want to say this once more: the finances of Halk TV are transparent, my friend. Anyone who wants to, and these are already known by the authorities that need to know, there is an administration in this country. The Republic of Turkey is not such a simple republic, my friend. Who does what, who acts how, where they take a step, it is all known.

Is it not known how Halk TV has been run here for 7 years, how its finances have been managed in a transparent way? I mean, there was nothing for 6 years, did it happen in the 6th year?

I say to those journalist friends who say these things: 'The finances of this place are being provided...' The finances of this place, my friend, are provided by Cafer Mahiroğlu. Down to the last penny. There is nothing forbidden in Cafer Mahiroğlu's money, nor is there a lie in his words. All of these are clearly in plain sight.

I mean, we know why these are being done. I am not saying too much about this anymore, but at least I say this to many friends who eat the bread of this country and define themselves as journalists in this country: Have some conscience. As I said, there should be a decent way to slander. What is this? What is this hurry of yours, my friend? What is this fear of yours?"