Melih Gökçek, summoned to testify, responds to the question: 'Has the AKP written you off?'
Former Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gökçek spoke about the investigation conducted against him and the allegations regarding his family's investments in Germany. Speaking to Sözcü columnist İsmail Saymaz, Gökçek also responded to the question, "Has the AKP written off the Gökçeks?"
12punto
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into Gökçek following allegations that unregistered funds were transferred to companies abroad.
Journalist Murat Ağırel, who brought the allegations to the public agenda, testified as a witness within the scope of the investigation, and it was learned that Gökçek was summoned to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to testify as a suspect on Friday, September 4, at 16:00.
Gökçek spoke to Sözcü columnist İsmail Saymaz about the investigation conducted against him and the allegations regarding his family's commercial activities in Germany.
GÖKÇEK'S RESPONSE REGARDING THE AKP'S STANCE
İsmail Saymaz asked Gökçek about the ongoing investigation as well as the AKP's approach toward him.
In response to Saymaz's question, "Has the AK Party perhaps written off the Gökçeks?", Gökçek replied, "Justice is justice for everyone. Justice for the Gökçeks, and justice for İsmail Saymaz. Look, am I crying?"
DENIED ALLEGATIONS OF SENDING MONEY ABROAD
When asked about the allegations that he transferred money abroad through his son and daughter-in-law, Gökçek rejected these claims.
Gökçek said, "There is no such thing. In my entire life, I have never transferred 1 lira abroad. I have never even gone abroad after becoming mayor. Forget Germany, I haven't even left my country."
Stating that his son Ahmet Gökçek and daughter-in-law Hülya Gökçek are in Turkey, Gökçek expressed that no invitation to testify has reached either of them.
STATEMENT REGARDING ACTIVITIES IN GERMANY
Answering the question regarding his family's commercial activities in Germany, Gökçek said the process was linked to residence permits. Stating that he does not know the details of the transactions in question, Gökçek expressed that his children are planning to do business in Germany.
When Saymaz asked whether trying to obtain residency in Germany contradicted Gökçek's past statements regarding Germany, Gökçek said, "The children are thinking of doing business in Germany. That is all there is to it. They bought these for 3.8 million, and they couldn't pay it all at once, so they paid in installments."
Regarding the source of the money used for the investments in Germany, Gökçek said he does not know how many properties were sold in Ankara and that no information was given to him on this matter.
AĞIREL'S ALLEGATION OF A COMPANY IN GERMANY
Journalist Murat Ağırel, who was heard as a witness within the scope of the investigation, claimed that Melih Gökçek's son Ahmet Gökçek and daughter-in-law Hülya Gökçek established a company named HAMAG in the German city of Düsseldorf.
Ağırel alleged that the company had a capital of 30 thousand euros at the establishment stage, while its turnover and number of employees were zero. Arguing that the company reached assets of 3 million 800 thousand euros in 2024, Ağırel stated that these assets consisted of 15 apartments and two commercial units.
Ağırel also claimed that a contract was made for a property worth 8 million 700 thousand euros in the German city of Velbert, which included 18 apartments and five commercial areas, but the sale did not take place because the contract terms were not met.
ALLEGATION OF PURCHASING A SHOPPING MALL IN LUXEMBOURG
Ağırel claimed that the process also extended to Luxembourg. Stating that he received information from two separate sources, Ağırel alleged that negotiations were held there for the purchase of a shopping mall worth 180-200 million euros.
Claiming that the purchase of the shopping mall was abandoned after the parties could not reach an agreement, Ağırel said he submitted the information and documents in his possession to the prosecutor's office.
AĞIREL: THE INVESTIGATION MAY EXPAND
Stating that the investigation could become more comprehensive in the future, Ağırel said, "I am of the opinion that a much larger event, a plot, will emerge at the end of this investigation. The prosecutor's office is continuing its investigation into this."