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MHP's Uysal responds to fake diploma allegations: 'This is slander, I don't want to comment'

New details continue to emerge in Turkey's fake diploma and e-signature investigation. MHP Mersin MP Levent Uysal, whom journalist Fatih Ergin claims is among the names linked to fake diplomas, spoke to 12punto about the allegations against him.

Sinem Nazlı Demir

SİNEM NAZLI DEMİR

Turkey is being rocked by a fake diploma gang scandal. Within the scope of the Ankara-based investigation, 37 of the 197 individuals detained were arrested, while judicial supervision orders were issued for 150 others. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 57 fake diplomas, 108 fake driving licences, and 4 fake high school graduation certificates had been identified.

A case has been filed against 65 defendants found to have been part of the organised structure. Sentences ranging from 5 to 50 years in prison are being sought for the defendants, who were found to have gained unauthorised access to government systems and issued hundreds of fake diplomas.

The fake diplomas were priced between 250 thousand TL and 2.5 million TL, and some payments were made in cryptocurrency. According to the defendants' statements, at least 400 academics were irregularly appointed to universities through this method.

It was reported that some individuals obtained associate professor and professor titles using fake documents, and that academic promotions were accelerated through grade manipulation. Among those with fake degrees are engineers, teachers, psychological counsellors, lawyers, and pharmacists.

MHP MP WITH A FAKE DIPLOMA

As the fake diploma allegations continue to dominate the agenda, a striking claim was put forward by journalist Fatih Ergin. Ergin stated that MHP Mersin MP Levent Uysal is among the names linked to fake diplomas. Levent Uysal, the figure at the centre of the allegations, spoke to 12punto.

"THIS IS SLANDER, I DON'T WANT TO COMMENT"

Stating that they had initiated legal proceedings regarding the allegations, Uysal said they were awaiting the outcome and that he therefore did not wish to make a detailed statement:

"This is slander. We have initiated the legal process and are awaiting the results, which is why I don't want to comment. Don't misunderstand me — we started the process on Monday, and once it concludes, we will speak wherever you wish."

VEHICLES CLAIMED TO BE İMAMOĞLU'S GARAGE TURNED OUT TO BELONG TO UYSAL AND HIS WIFE

Pro-government media had claimed at the end of April that all of the luxury vehicles in a garage they reported on belonged to arrested İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

While the İmamoğlu camp denied the allegations, CHP Mersin MP Ali Mahir Başarır brought the matter to the parliamentary agenda and stated the following:

"The million-dollar cars claimed to belong to Murat Kapki — based on information obtained from the file by pro-government A Haber — were broadcast on television, the prosecutor's office had those cars towed to a car park, and it emerged that half of those cars belonged to a member of parliament within the People's Alliance..."

The MP whom Başarır did not name was alleged to be MHP Mersin MP Levent Uysal.

Uysal had stated that only one of the 10 luxury vehicles seen in the footage was registered in his wife's name.