Mücahit Birinci's prosecutor's statement revealed: 'It is extremely normal'

The investigation into corruption allegations concerning the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) and Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as Mayor and arrested, continues.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had obtained authorization from the Ministry of Justice to investigate allegations that lawyer Mücahit Birinci held a meeting in prison with a suspect detained as part of the ongoing corruption investigation.

Following the granting of the investigation permit, Birinci arrived at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan to provide his statement to the prosecutor in his capacity as a 'suspect'.

After his statement to the prosecutor, Birinci was referred to the Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for judicial control measures, including a 'travel ban' and 'signing in'. Lawyer Birinci was released by the Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace under judicial control measures.

Mücahit Birinci's statement to the prosecutor has been revealed. In his statement, Birinci said, "I have been a lawyer for approximately 25 years. About a week before the date of the meeting, a lawyer friend of mine told me that Murat Kapki, who is being held as a detainee at the Tekirdağ No. 1 Closed Penal Institution, wanted to meet with me.

I told him that he needed to give me a power of attorney to meet, and that I would not go to the prison to meet without a power of attorney. Upon this, Murat Kapki issued a power of attorney. On July 31, I went to the Tekirdağ No. 1 Closed Prison in my private vehicle. I had a 20-25 minute meeting with Murat Kapki.

He told me about the crimes he was accused of, and said that he had made an effective remorse plea but thought he was in the evaluation process. I asked him for his evidence; he gave me abstract statements regarding the file he was being tried for. Since he kept circling the issue and could not make it concrete, I told him that I could not be his lawyer. Furthermore, he started talking about different things, constantly deviating from the subject," he said.

"I DID NOT ASK HIM FOR 2 MILLION DOLLARS"

Continuing his statement, Birinci said, "After the meeting, as I was leaving, he asked me whether I would be his lawyer. I told him that it would not be possible under these conditions.

On August 5, Murat Kapki dismissed me. I had already conveyed this situation to Murat Kapki as I was leaving the prison visit by saying, 'you do what is necessary.' I absolutely did not ask him for 2 million dollars, nor did I ask him to sign a one-and-a-half-page text as Murat Kapki claims. I did not make any promises that I could get him released.

Murat Kapki gave me a power of attorney, and I went to visit the prison in Tekirdağ where he is being held. As I stated at the beginning of my testimony, I have been practicing law for 25 years. I am trying to do my job well. In the meeting in question, I tried to fulfill my duty by adhering to professional principles and not overstepping boundaries. As I stated in the complainant's testimony, I did not ask him for 2 million dollars; it is extremely normal for a lawyer to ask for a legal fee from their client. However, we ended the meeting before we even reached that stage. I believe that this complaint, which was a routine legal activity, has been turned into a political conspiracy. I absolutely do not accept the accusations against me," he said.