Founding Rector of Girne American University gives testimony

Özalp Tozan, the founding director and former partner of Girne American University (GAU), which was cited as a reference in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's transfer application to Istanbul University, has given his testimony to the prosecutor's office.

According to the report by Oğuz Ok from Odatv, Tozan stated that he gave testimony for approximately one and a half hours at the prosecutor's office, asserting that he is not someone who would grant favors to anyone and that he would not prepare special documents for anyone.

"I DID NOT PERFORM ANY SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR ANYONE"

Tozan recounted an incident he experienced at the time with a student who wanted to enroll in the university as an example. Tozan explained that he asked a student who wanted to register, "Do you have your high school diploma?" and when the student replied, "I haven't graduated yet, I will graduate in September," he told the student, "I cannot register you." He stated that he became angry when the student in question told him, "I am the son of person X," and that he removed the student from his office.

When asked, "Did you tell these things to the prosecutor as well?" Tozan said, "I am not a man who would grant favors or prepare special documents for anyone. Those who know me, know me. I am a person who did not even enroll my own cousin in the university. I would not grant favors to anyone, including İmamoğlu. I told the prosecutor as well. The prosecutor spoke with me enough to understand my personality. These statements of mine were put on the record."

Tozan stated that he is not an organizer who recruits students, adding, "My personality is clear. I am approaching 70 years of age. I am not someone who has performed any special procedures for anyone in my life. I would give all my assets to anyone who could find an example of it. I live within the rules," he said.