Minister Gürlek's statement: 'İdris Naim Şahin's testimonies do not match'

Gürlek stated that Şahin's testimonies regarding the vehicle do not align with the evidence in the investigation file and the HTS (Historical Traffic Search) records.

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek made assessments regarding the vehicles used within the scope of the operation, which has come to the public's attention as the “Kuriş Criminal Organization” investigation.

Within the scope of the investigation, the revelation that one of the vehicles equipped with emergency lights, which was stated to have been used in the kidnapping of Hilmi Tuna Kiriş, the brother of community leader Alihan Kuriş, was allocated to former Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin, had sparked controversy.

“HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT”

Gürlek stated that Şahin claimed he had given the vehicle in question to other individuals through a rental arrangement, but that the findings in the investigation file do not match this explanation.

Minister Gürlek conveyed that Şahin said he only used the vehicle when he came to Istanbul, noting that HTS records show the vehicle was used for a longer period.

Gürlek said, “Our minister İdris Naim Şahin should not have done this. He says he gave it away through a rental arrangement. But this does not hold up with the evidence in the file. What he says does not match the HTS records. What he says and what is in the file do not align.”

Stating that the vehicle was used by Mehmet Özmen, Gürlek said there is no company record in the file regarding any rental transaction. The Minister added that it is being evaluated that two other vehicles were also made available to individuals linked to the organization within the scope of the investigation.