Detained as 'İmamoğlu’s Treasurer,' turns out to be the owner of a restaurant opened by Erdoğan
It has emerged that the restaurant owned by Seza Büyükçulha, who was labeled as the "secret treasurer" of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu by pro-government media, was opened years ago by President Erdoğan. Those close to her stated that Büyükçulha has been living in a rented home for years and has been experiencing financial difficulties.
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On the morning of May 23, a 4th wave operation was carried out as part of the investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). Detention warrants were issued for 49 people, including executives from İSTAÇ and KİPTAŞ. Among these individuals was Kadriye Kasapoğlu, the Chief of Staff to İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA TARGETED HER
Following the operation, media outlets close to the government targeted Seza Büyükçulha, who operates a restaurant in Trabzon. A Haber reporter Mehmet Karataş described Büyükçulha as "İmamoğlu’s secret vault" during a live broadcast. The report, served under the headline "A Haber has reached special information," made the following claims:
"Could this be one of Ekrem İmamoğlu's biggest vaults? She is neither someone working at the Metropolitan Municipality nor at this hotel. She is his childhood friend from Trabzon. It is estimated that she is the person who is called to meetings regarding tenders and where collections are gathered."
ERDOĞAN HAD GIVEN THE OPENING SPEECH
However, a striking detail about Büyükçulha emerged following these claims. It was determined that the opening of the Arakale Restaurant in the Araklı district of Trabzon was performed personally by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to a report published in 2018 by the local news site haber61, Erdoğan made the following remarks at the opening:
"I am pleased to be performing the opening ceremony of such a venue in this exceptional, distinct, and beautiful place in Araklı. On this occasion, I would like to thank Perihan Hanım for making such an investment here."
The restaurant that was opened belongs to Seza Büyükçulha.
"IF SHE IS A VAULT, WHY IS SHE STILL RENTING?"
Responding to the allegations on social media, Büyükçulha’s close friend Nedim Saral stated that the accusations in question were untrue. Saral conveyed that Büyükçulha’s economic situation does not align with the claims, saying:
"This person, who is called Ekrem İmamoğlu’s vault, is someone who has been a tradesperson in Trabzon for years and still lives in a rented house. Her commercial life has gone through difficulties from time to time. Moreover, the venue she owns was opened by President Erdoğan. Due to our up-and-down business lives over the years, we have borrowed and lent money to each other from time to time. Why would a person who is 'İmamoğlu’s most secret vault' be short on daily cash?"
Touching upon the hotel footage broadcast by A Haber, Saral said that the moment was not a private meeting, but merely a chance encounter between two friends at the hotel:
"The fact that she left the hotel 5 minutes after the walk in the video also shows this. This is a casual chat between two friends who met in a friendly manner. This case is nothing more than an attempt to intimidate and cast a wide net for everyone. Seza is not that person. Ask anyone in Trabzon, and everyone will give the same answer."