Statement from Veli Ağbaba following the Seferihisar operation
The allegation that a 500,000 TL money transfer took place between Özlem Akyılmaz, who was detained as part of an operation targeting the Seferihisar Municipality, and CHP Malatya MP Veli Ağbaba has sparked debate. Making a statement regarding the claims, Ağbaba said that the transaction in question may have been related to election expenses incurred before the local elections.
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As the repercussions of the operation targeting the municipality in İzmir's Seferihisar district continue, the allegation of a money transfer involving Özlem Akyılmaz, one of the individuals detained, has become a central topic in politics. CHP Malatya MP Veli Ağbaba, whose advisor is Akyılmaz, made statements regarding the financial movements reported in the public eye.
ÖZLEM AKYILMAZ DETAINED
Some individuals were detained as part of the operation carried out against the Seferihisar Municipality in the morning hours. It was learned that Özlem Akyılmaz was among those detained.
It was stated that Akyılmaz is an advisor to CHP Malatya MP Veli Ağbaba.
Halktv.com.tr columnist İsmail Saymaz reported that he made assessments on the subject during the "Para Siyaset" (Money Politics) program hosted by Ebru Baki on Halk TV.
Saymaz stated that a table regarding account movements, shared on social media by some journalists close to the government, included a record indicating a money transfer between Özlem Akyılmaz and Veli Ağbaba.
ALLEGED 500,000 TL TRANSACTION DATED MARCH 7, 2024
According to the information shared on the program, the account flow table in question showed a wire transfer of 500,000 TL between Özlem Akyılmaz and Veli Ağbaba on March 7, 2024.
İsmail Saymaz said he spoke with Veli Ağbaba to learn the accuracy of this information and the nature of the transaction.
"IT MAY BE AN ELECTION-RELATED EXPENSE"
According to what Saymaz reported, Veli Ağbaba stated in his explanation regarding the money transfer in question that the transaction might be linked to expenses incurred during the local election process.
Ağbaba's assessment was conveyed as follows:
"He said that it may have been an expense related to the election before the local elections."
SAYMAZ EXPLAINED THE DETAILS OF THE CONVERSATION
İsmail Saymaz used the following expressions regarding his conversation with Veli Ağbaba on the program:
"One of those detained is Ö.A., Özlem Akyılmaz. She is listed as a public official. It was alleged that this person was connected to Veli Ağbaba. I asked Veli Ağbaba. He stated that Özlem Akyılmaz is his advisor. Various pro-government journalists on social media are sharing an account flow table belonging to Özlem Akyılmaz. In one of these tables, it is seen that there was a 500,000 TL wire transfer transaction from Özlem Akyılmaz to Veli Ağbaba or from Veli Ağbaba to Özlem Akyılmaz on March 7, 2024. When I asked Veli Ağbaba whether this transaction was true and what it was, he said that it may have been an expense related to the election before the local elections."