SEGBİS records have reached the case file

Müslim SARIYAR/12punto.com.tr

The expert report for the second hearing of the fraud case that shook Turkey has been completed. The SEGBİS records of the two-day hearing have been prepared. A report totaling 266 pages, consisting of one 105-page section and another 161-page section, has reached the court file.

LASTED TWO DAYS

The second hearing, held by the 41st High Criminal Court at the Çağlayan Courthouse, took place on January 12. The first session of the second hearing lasted 9 hours, 55 minutes, and 50 seconds. The second day of the ongoing hearing was held on January 15. The second session lasted 7 hours, 10 minutes, and 48 seconds. The most anticipated part of this hearing was the testimony of former Galatasaray national football player Semih Kaya. All records of the hours-long court hearing, in which Semih Kaya appeared as a witness, were included in the report.

SEMİH KAYA ANSWERED QUESTIONS

The presiding judge Semih Kayawas placed under oath and asked what happened with Seçil Erzan. Semih Kaya stated that he began playing regularly for the Galatasaray A team in 2011 and said, "A private banking account was opened in my name at the Florya Denizbank branch by my club. It continued from that day until what I refer to as today, which is April 2023. After April 2023, I moved my account to another bank, a private bank. I still have an active account at Denizbank. I currently continue to be a private banking customer at Denizbank. Apart from that, in April 2022, Seçil Erzan told me that there was an investment account under the name of a custodial fund. She explained the advantages of these to me in the same way," he said.

Following this account by Kaya, the presiding judge "What kind of advantage did it have?"he asked. "She mentioned that you were getting seriously good returns and that it was an investment fund. At that time, I had 300,000 dollars available in my account." The following dialogue took place between Semih Kaya, who said this, and the presiding judge:

Presiding Judge: You had 300,000 dollars in your account. Was that all you had?

Semih Kaya: No, I had more. I invested 300,000 dollars of it into this investment fund. Later, in May, 

Presiding Judge: When did you give the 300,000 dollars?

Semih Kaya: In April.

Presiding Judge: In April 2022. Then what?

Semih Kaya: Yes, in April 2022. She presented me with an official document in the same manner. She provided a document with the Denizbank letterhead, the Denizbank stamp, and her own signature on it. I delivered the money to her in that way at the Denizbank Florya branch. Later, in the same way, in May of the same year, I had opened a 1.2 million Euro currency-protected deposit account. We had been in contact with a Denizbank employee named Mr. Oğuz Atilla. I believe that after she saw the amount of that money, she stated that she could transfer this money into this fund in the same way and that it would yield significant returns again. So, about 60 days before the maturity date, I broke my currency-protected deposit and delivered it to her at the Florya Metin Oktay Facilities, handing it over to Ali Yörük, who was working as a bank employee in private banking custody and in the treasury, and to Seçil Erzan herself.

ALİ YÖRÜK AND SEÇİL ERZAN WERE TOGETHER

Presiding Judge: Did you hand it over to both of them at the same time? 

Semih Kaya: Yes, they were together.

Presiding Judge: What year was it?

Semih Kaya: May 2022.

Presiding Judge: In the meantime, you didn't receive anything at all.

Semih Kaya: No, I did not receive anything. I received the necessary documents.

Presiding Judge: How many Euros did you give?

Semih Kaya: I remember converting 1.2 million Euros into dollars, and the exchange rate parity was the same that day. This can be verified. That was how it was. I handed it over to her, along with Ali Yörük. In fact, this was at the Florya Metin Oktay Facilities. Later, I don't remember the exact month, it could have been July or August, she said she had been appointed to the Levent Büyükdere branch. She told us that she would rise to the level of general manager in banking and that the bank had moved her to the Levent Büyükdere branch, where she noted there were more special clients. And she moved all my accounts at the Florya Denizbank branch to the Levent Büyükdere branch through the meetings she held in line with her own directions. Later, in the same way, after I had handed her the 1.2 million and the 300,000 dollars at the Levent Büyükdere branch, there was no sufficient amount in my account because there were no deposits. She said that the opportunity fund had opened again and that if we entered it, my money would constantly accrue interest along with the contracts, and that these transactions would continue in this way. That day, since I was playing for Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic, I also handed it over there. There was an account in my name. I don't remember the exact figure from my account there. I have submitted every necessary document to the prosecutor's office. How the transactions were carried out. Everything is already documented. I transferred it from my account in the Czech Republic to my own account at the Florya—I apologize, I mean the Levent Büyükdere branch.

Presiding Judge: How much did you transfer?

Semih Kaya: I don't remember the exact figure, your Honor, but I recall transferring a sum of around 2.2 million Euros. There might be some minor inaccuracies.

Presiding Judge: From there, the Czech Republic; in the meantime, you never received any money. You gave 300,000 dollars, you gave 1.2 million Euros, you gave 2.2 million Euros; when did you bring that money from the Czech Republic?

Semih Kaya: I mean, I don't remember the exact date, Your Honor. The relevant dates are already clear on the receipts.

“THERE WERE TIMES I RECEIVED MONEY”

Presiding Judge: You haven't received any money at this point.

Semih Kaya: I did. There were times I received money, Your Honor. I would receive each of them in the same way at the Levent Büyükdere branch and deposit them into my own account. The total amount I have received so far is close to 3.5 million dollars. As I said, there might be some small change.

Presiding Judge: Did you receive these all at once?

Semih Kaya: No, not all at once. I received them in installments. From this so-called 'hidden fund' I mentioned.

"I BOUGHT THE HOUSE MYSELF"

The presiding judge stated to Semih Kaya that Seçil Erzan claimed she paid for the house he bought in Bodrum. Upon this, Kaya stated that these payments were made from his own account.

THE GPS-TRACKED BAG INCIDENT

Semih Kaya was also asked about the incident involving the suitcase full of money that Atilla Baltaş gave to Seçil Erzan, which had a GPS device attached to it. The following dialogue took place in court regarding this incident: 

Semih Kaya: I remember it being November 15th. Seçil Erzan handed me a payment of approximately 200,000 dollars at the bank. Since it was a normal return, I deposited it into my own account. Later, she handed me the bag I had deposited the money in herself. She said, 'You keep the bag.'

Presiding Judge: The empty bag?

Semih Kaya: Yes, I naturally put the bag in the back trunk of my car. Actually, not even in the trunk, I put it on the back seat. That bag stayed in my car.

Presiding Judge: Why did you take the empty bag?

Semih Kaya: Because she said so. She said, 'Keep the bag.' I don't know, maybe there could be a scheme behind that too. At the time, I didn't have any thoughts like that at all.

Presiding Judge: So, you deposited the money in that bag into your Denizbank account that day.

Semih Kaya: That is correct, your Honor. That is correct. In fact, there is something else; I looked at the statements given by Seçil Erzan's lawyer on television, and they mentioned an amount of 550,000 dollars. I believe that in Friday's hearing, Seçil Erzan herself stated that this was 200,000 dollars.

Presiding Judge: What kind of bag was this? Was it a suitcase or a laptop bag?

Semih Kaya: A blue laptop bag. I even have footage of it. I have the recording as well. I took it when I was removing the GPS. Because I heard something starting to beep in my car. Naturally, one gets worried when encountering something like that. Later, it must have been November 17th, at 00:03 on the night leading into the 17th, I called Seçil Erzan. I told her about this situation. I told her that Atilla Baltaş had delivered this bag to her, that the bag belonged to Atilla Baltaş and not to her, and that I would file a complaint. I spoke with her. Later, I also called Atilla Baltaş to question who he was and why I was experiencing such a thing. Atilla Baltaş said it was a misunderstanding. He said it was his bag.

Presiding Judge:  So, did she say something like, 'What is your money doing with me?'

Semih Kaya: She said that too. I stated the same thing. I said, 'How would I know why your money is with me?' Later... The next day, I had gone to Bodrum. My house was under construction. To check on the situation. The places where the GPS moved can be observed. You have already conducted the investigation into these matters. There is truly no problem regarding that. On the morning of the 16th, I set off with my wife to go to the airport for Bodrum. I left the car in the parking lot. I went to Bodrum and checked on the house. I observed the situation. I returned to Istanbul the same day. I noticed that GPS incident that evening anyway.

Presiding Judge: Did you meet with Atilla Baltaş?

Semih Kaya: Yes, on the 17th—I don't remember the exact time, but I assume it appears in the records—we had a meeting at Seçil Erzan's office; my wife was also with me. We had a meeting together. He had previously stated to us that day that his bag had been stolen from his car, that he was involved in foreign exchange transactions, and I think there was an office that bought and sold foreign currency. He also mentioned that he owned restaurants, I believe breakfast restaurants. He stated that his bag was stolen from his car, which is why he had GPS trackers installed in his bags, and that is why the GPS was with me. He showed me a document regarding the theft, so I didn't dwell on it. In fact, Seçil Erzan also said on the phone that he was a very good, respectful person, and she even used the term that he was very pure-hearted and that she had feelings for him, which is why she couldn't get rid of him.

READ HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH SEÇİL ERZAN

Regarding the allegations that he had discussions with Selçuk İnan about this private fund, Semih Kaya spoke as follows and read the messages he exchanged with Seçil Erzan on this subject: “Regarding Selçuk brother, you know, many times interesting news appeared in the press about Selçuk brother, about me getting Selçuk İnan into the fund. There was quite a lot of pressure on me in Turkey regarding this issue. I am writing. September 28, 2022. Because since Selçuk brother had called me before, such a conversation had taken place between us. I am writing, "Sister, is Selçuk brother also joining?" The answer Seçil Erzan gave is, "Yes, the coach said so." This is, of course, Seçil Erzan's statement. Is there any problem for you? My dear, I felt uncomfortable, she states. No, sister, what problem would there be, on the contrary, I am happy for his sake, I am writing too. Our conversation can also be recorded in this way. I can present this to you as well, Mr. President.” 

WHY DID YOU GO TO THE HOUSE

Another detail that was widely discussed was the incident of Semih Kaya going to Seçil Erzan's house. The presiding judge also asked this question based on the WhatsApp correspondence. Kaya answered this question as follows: “I went once. She said that the money was released in March because during those periods,

on the dates she mentioned, no payment was coming in any way. I also said that the payment was released, during those periods, in March, if I remember correctly, it was around the 29th, I was at the Riva National Team Facilities for a coaching camp. I guess she assumed that I could not leave the national team coaching camp on my own. She sent a message saying you can come. About half an hour or 40 minutes later, I went to her house. I stayed for about 15 minutes. We talked in front of her door. She stated that everything would be fine and that the payments would be released, then I left there 15 minutes later. You can even examine the visuals and camera records of this as proof that I did not receive any money, Mr. President.”

“I HAVE A RECEIVABLE”

The presiding judge asked Semih Kaya if he had any outstanding receivables. Kaya claimed that he had received 3.5 million dollars and that he had a receivable of 500,000 dollars. When asked what was promised, Kaya answered as follows: "Approximately 10"

He said I had a receivable of around a million dollars. By the way, these things really happened, Mr. President. On her own screen, on her computer, she showed me how much money I had at the Levent Büyükdere branch, how much interest it had accrued, and she even stated the account information created in the private fund in her office while speaking to someone named Fatin on the bank's dedicated line, using my Turkish ID number. It was stated here that there was a figure of approximately 20 million dollars.

WAS SEÇİL MANHANDLED?

Semih Kaya was questioned by Seçil Erzan's lawyer. Later, intervening, the lawyer for the complainant İbrahim Çağlar, Metin Aslan, asked, "Did Semih Kaya mob Seçil Erzan? Did Semih manhandle Seçil Erzan?” Upon this, the Presiding Judge repeated the question, saying, “Did you receive excess money? Did you mob her? Did you manhandle her, is that correct?” Erzan's lawyer, Nazlı Nadide Karaaslan, replied, “Sir, we did not use the expression that she was being manhandled anyway.” 

In response, the Presiding Judge said, “How did you not use it, Counsel? Your client said in the last session that she was threatened.” he said.

“WHO IS SEÇİL ERZAN TO MAKE ME BUY A HOUSE”

Taking the floor in court, Seçil Erzan asked a question regarding the incident involving Semih Kaya's purchase of a house. The dialogue that took place was reflected in the court record as follows:

Seçil Erzan: I only ask that Semih state whether or not he said this sentence to me: 'When I had 3 million Euros, I would buy a 1 million dollar house, and because I knew I had 20 million dollars, I have to buy a house of this value, and this money has to come to me; no matter what, I do not accept this. This money must come.' Did he say this to me or not?

Presiding Judge: Did you say it?

Semih Kaya: I did not say it, your Honor. I can explain it this way: I have played top-level football for approximately 14 years. I have played for the country's biggest clubs, the biggest club, and also abroad for the biggest club in the Czech Republic. After conducting the necessary research and seeing the amounts and figures I signed for in my contracts, everyone will clearly understand that I have no need for such a thing. Who is Seçil Erzan to make me buy a house? What need do I have for anything related to Seçil Erzan making me buy a house? I already possess that power, your Honor.