Testimony that will put Özlem Çerçioğlu in a difficult position: Confession regarding donations and survey payments
While debates continue regarding Aydın Metropolitan Municipality tenders linked to Aziz İhsan Aktaş, whom the prosecutor's office defines as a criminal organization leader, former Head of Environmental Protection Department İbrahim Gürdal has added new details to the file. Gürdal confirmed the allegations of donations and survey payments made by Aktaş's partner; he suggested that his own testimony had not been taken and that this might be linked to Özlem Çerçioğlu's transition to the AKP.
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Tenders related to the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality have returned to the agenda through the name of Aziz İhsan Aktaş, whom the prosecutor's office defines as a criminal organization leader. Allegations that tenders linked to Aktaş extend to the period of Aydın Metropolitan Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu, who switched to the AKP, have sparked public debate.
THE SURVEY ALLEGATION BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA BY ÖZGÜR ÖZEL
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had previously claimed in his statements that Çerçioğlu had made Aktaş pay for a survey study. These allegations have returned to the agenda along with testimonies given within the scope of the investigation.
Halktv.com.tr columnist İsmail Saymaz announced on the program broadcast on Halk TV that, following the testimony of Aktaş's partner Baki Nugay, he spoke with İbrahim Gürdal, who served as the Head of the Environmental Protection Department of the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality during the period when the events took place.
“WHAT NUGAY SAID IS TRUE”
Speaking to Saymaz, Gürdal stated that he confirmed the allegations Nugay made to the prosecutor's office. Gürdal conveyed that Nugay told him that donations and payments were requested under the instruction of Özlem Çerçioğlu.
Stating that his testimony has not been taken on this matter to date, Gürdal suggested that this might be linked to Çerçioğlu's transition to the AKP. Gürdal said, “My testimony was not taken. It could be due to Özlem Çerçioğlu changing parties.”
DONATION ALLEGATION: “PAYMENT WAS MADE IN THREE STAGES”
In his statement to Saymaz, İbrahim Gürdal confirmed that Baki Nugay's company received environmental tenders from the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality. According to Gürdal's account, Özlem Çerçioğlu, thinking that the firms were earning significant income from Aydın, gave instructions for a donation to be made to the Aydın 1923 Association.
Stating that Nugay was invited upon this instruction, Gürdal said that the company made donations to the Aydın 1923 Association in three separate stages. Gürdal reported that in exchange for these donations, an advertising sign for the cleaning company owned by Nugay was hung at the Aydınspor Stadium.
“IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE MAYOR'S INSTRUCTION”
Gürdal's response to Saymaz's question about who came up with the idea for the advertising sign was also noteworthy. Although Gürdal initially said that this request came from them, he later stated, “Of course, at the request of the Mayor. This would not happen without the Mayor's request.”
Gürdal stated that a receipt was issued in exchange for the donation, and claimed that Çerçioğlu said, “These men are making money from Aydın, let them give a sign advertisement. Let them contribute to Aydınspor.”
“LET THE CLEANING COMPANY PAY THIS MONTH”
İsmail Saymaz also shared what Gürdal conveyed regarding the survey allegation brought to the agenda by Özgür Özel. Gürdal said that as a municipality, they had city satisfaction surveys conducted by a research company every month.
According to Gürdal's account, one month Özlem Çerçioğlu gave the instruction, “Let the cleaning company cover the cost of this month, let no money come out of the municipality's budget.”
“THE INSTRUCTION CAME FROM THE MAYOR”
Gürdal stated that the survey study was not for election purposes, but that satisfaction measurements were made regarding municipal services such as cleaning, parks, and gardens. Stating that this survey was carried out through legal means, Gürdal said that the cost was loaded onto the firm so that no payment would be made from the municipal budget during that period.
To Saymaz's question, “Did this also happen at the Mayor's request?”, Gürdal replied, “Yes, that also happened at the Mayor's request. The instruction was given that money should not come out of the budget, let the firm do it itself.”
Reiterating that no testimony-taking process had been carried out regarding himself, İbrahim Gürdal expressed that this might be linked to the political transition. Gürdal said, “Our testimony was not taken on this matter. It could be due to Özlem Çerçioğlu changing parties.”