Testimony of Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler revealed

An investigation has been launched into Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler for "rigging bids" and "misconduct in office." Köseler, who was taken into custody, was referred to the court with a request for his arrest along with 18 other individuals. 

Köseler's testimony to the prosecutor's office has been revealed. In his statement, Köseler said that 'he did not meet with representatives of companies participating in tenders at the Beykoz Municipality in his office or anywhere else, did not engage in price negotiations, and did not provide any guidance or instructions.' 

The full text of Köseler's statement is as follows: 

"The municipality grew from 25 directorates to 31. The number of employees is around 2,300. I have neither intervened in any processes nor had any contact with the companies. Given the workload and the flow of life, it is not possible for me to have knowledge of the tender processes. For example, 8,000 cups of soup and meals for 1,600 people are distributed daily within the Directorate of Operations and Affiliates. Until this directorate was established, it was carried out by a staff member from the previous term within the Business and Operations Support Services. It is not possible for me to know how the work and transactions are carried out with such a high number of directorates and personnel. I have no involvement in the process of creating tender specifications as you have described to me. Any illegality must undoubtedly be investigated. However, I am not a party to any of these issues. I would like to reiterate that just as I did not accept any company representative into my office, I did not give any instructions or guidance to any personnel regarding any company. I did not receive any complaints that Veli Gümüş (the chief of staff) was involved in the tender processes. It is not possible for me to follow his actions and transactions at all times. Because the structure is so vast, there are conversations within the municipality as if I had given instructions on various matters, even though I had no knowledge of them. However, I have only heard of such things later."

'WE DO NOT KNOW THE IDENTITIES OF THE WITNESSES'

Mayor Köseler's lawyer, İsmail Emre Telci, made the following defense:

"The Mayor has a delegation of authority regarding tenders. Those who issue the tenders have the right and authority to cancel them. Therefore, it is not possible for the mayor to follow all these processes as the authorizing officer. The mayor gives the main instruction. For example, he says a daily iftar program for 3,000 people will be held. The relevant directorate carries out the procurement process for this. The mayor is only interested in the result. The mayor has no knowledge of how these processes take place. Furthermore, he is not required to be involved. If public damage has occurred here, the Court of Accounts auditor can audit it, and the Inspection Board can audit it. If public damage is determined, the mayor will do what is necessary.

Law No. 4483 on the Trial of Civil Servants and Other Public Officials also regulates how a mayor should be questioned. We believe this process has been bypassed with charges of organized crime and rigging bids. First of all, it must be determined how public damage occurred in direct procurements within the framework of Law No. 4483. Subsequently, other transactions should be followed. We object to these points as well. Furthermore, we do not know the identities of the witnesses at the police station. We do not know if they have any hostility, and we object to this as well. Food and consumer goods were purchased, especially in emergencies. Whoever is responsible should be held accountable, but the mayor has no responsibility. He should be released immediately."