New development in CHP money-counting footage case: Trial date set
The Istanbul 59th Criminal Court of First Instance, which accepted the indictment regarding the money-counting footage allegedly filmed at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters, has decided that the first hearing will be held on September 25.
AA
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent the indictment prepared against 22 defendants regarding the money-counting footage, which was allegedly filmed at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters and shared on social media, to the court after it was approved by the chief prosecutor's office.
Completing its review of the indictment and preparing the preliminary report, the Istanbul 59th Criminal Court of First Instance set September 25 as the date for the first hearing.
It was learned that the court has begun sending notifications to the parties informing them of the date and time of the hearing.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The indictment stated that an investigation was launched after footage was shared on the social media platform X on March 11 by many different accounts and users, showing an unidentified person taking stacks of banknotes out of a black bag and arranging them on a table.
The indictment explained that 14 properties in the Ayazağa neighborhood of Sarıyer, Block C, were sold to the CHP by Ali Rıza Braka, an official of the SEAS Besicilik company, on December 11, 2019, and stated that the money in the footage belonged to this sale.
The indictment noted that the amount of money used during the purchase of the party building, which was counted in cash and delivered by hand, was 15 million 510 thousand liras, according to a record signed by Braka, the then CHP Istanbul Provincial Vice President Özgür Nas, and lawyer Gökhan Taşkapan, the owner of the office where the footage was filmed.
The indictment requests prison sentences of 6 months to 1 year for all 22 defendants, including former Maltepe Mayor Ali Kılıç and his advisor Melih Morsümbül, former Şişli Mayor Muammer Keskin, former CHP Istanbul Provincial President Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Sports Club President Fatih Keleş, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Vice President Özgür Nas, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Press Advisor Mustafa Can Poyraz, and Tuncay Yılmaz, General Manager of İmamoğlu Construction Company, in accordance with the article of the Law on Political Parties regarding "receiving or giving donations, loans, or debts contrary to the law."