Statements of 2 more individuals obtained in money-counting investigation: 'I do not accept any accusations'

The investigation launched ex officio by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the money-counting footage allegedly filmed at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters and shared on social media continues.

The prosecutor's office statements of former Deputy CHP Istanbul Provincial President Özgür Nas and former CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency press advisor Can Poyraz, who went to the courthouse yesterday (14.03.2024) and were questioned as "suspects" within the scope of the investigation, have been obtained.

"THESE ARE FOOTAGE FILMED DURING THE PURCHASE PROCESS"

In his statement, Nas stated that he was one of the people in the footage published on social media and said, "These are images filmed during the purchase process of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters building located in the Avangart Site in the Sarıyer district, which was to be purchased at that time."

Claiming that the place where the footage was filmed was the office of Gökhan Taşkapan, who is the seller's lawyer and whose name appears in the minutes published by the CHP, Nas said he did not know the exact address of the office.

"WE WENT TO THE LAWYER'S OFFICE"

Nas claimed that he was called by the CHP Headquarters on December 9, 2019, but did not know who called, saying, "They said that a down payment would be made during the purchase process of the CHP provincial building and that I should be there as the provincial deputy president. Although I cannot remember very well because a long time has passed, I went to the lawyer's office with Can Poyraz, whose name is in the file. I do not remember who sent me the address of the office. Because the purchasing process was being carried out by the officials of the headquarters."

"THE MONEY WAS BROUGHT TO THE OFFICE BY FATİH KELEŞ"

Arguing that they did not have any money on them when they went to the office with the other suspect Can Poyraz, Nas said, "When we went to the office, although I cannot remember exactly, Fatih Keleş also came before or after us. The money seen in the footage was brought to the office by Fatih Keleş."

"I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE"

Nas claimed that he was sitting in the chair across from the table as seen in the footage and was waiting for the money-counting process to finish, and continued as follows:

"After the money-counting process was finished, I, as the representative of the CHP side purchasing the provincial building, signed the minutes dated December 9, 2019, which were also reflected in the media, stating: '15,510,000 TL in cash was received externally regarding the sale of 14 independent units located in block C, plot 2, block 7752, Ayazağa Neighborhood, Sarıyer, Istanbul.' I have no information about where the money was obtained or for what amount the building was purchased. Furthermore, I do not have any official authority regarding this. I only signed the minutes because I held the highest position within the party among the people present in the lawyer's office. Then I left the office. I did not follow the official purchase process of the party building after the delivery of the down payment reflected in the footage."

"I DO NOT KNOW IF IT ENTERED OFFICIAL RECORDS"

Answering the question of whether the 15 million 510 thousand liras delivered with the minutes stating "in cash externally" were received in exchange for an official receipt or invoice, or whether it was recorded as a party expense, Nas said, "Since I was told by the Headquarters at that time that this money would be given as a down payment, I do not know whether this amount entered the official records. Furthermore, due to my position, I have no knowledge or authority regarding whether the money paid was recorded in the expense ledger. Lawyer Gökhan Taşkapan prepared and printed the minutes on his own computer. I only signed where my name was."

When asked why 15 million 510 thousand liras were written in the minutes despite the presence of Turkish currency and Euros in the footage, Nas claimed he had no knowledge of it.

"I DO NOT ACCEPT ANY ACCUSATIONS"

Claiming that he had no knowledge of whether the money delivered under the name of a down payment was obtained from the donation campaign launched at that time or from somewhere else, Nas said, "The only thing I know about this matter is that the money was brought to the office by Fatih Keleş. I do not accept any of the accusations leveled against me."

"KELEŞ BROUGHT IT IN A BAG"

The other suspect, Can Poyraz, stated in his interrogation that he went to some places with provincial administrators due to his job at that time.

Stating that they went to the office when the footage was filmed, probably at the call of Özgür Nas, Poyraz claimed, "We did not have any money on us when we went to the law office. I do not remember exactly when Fatih Keleş came to the office, but Keleş brought the money reflected in the footage in a bag."

Poyraz argued that he knew they were at the office for the down payment of the provincial building to be made, but that he did not know where Keleş brought the money from or how he obtained it.

Stating that he was the one who took some of the money out of the bag and left it on the table, Poyraz argued that he did not remember the amount of the money and whether there were Euros among the counted money, even if Euros appeared.

Can Poyraz also said that he did not officially sign any document or minutes.