Testimony of Kenan Koçak, husband of singer Merve Özbey, who is under arrest in the Sarallar investigation, has emerged

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues its investigation into 7 suspects on allegations of facilitating the escape abroad of Turan Yıldırım, who had an active arrest warrant as part of the Sarallar criminal organization. Within the scope of the investigation, the testimonies given to the prosecutor's office by Edirne Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch Manager M.D.K. and contractor Kenan Koçak have also emerged.

In his testimony to the prosecutor's office, suspect police chief M.D.K. stated that he knew suspects Kenan Koçak and Ener Aktaş, but that he had never seen or met Turan Yıldırım, who is alleged to have been smuggled abroad, before.

In his statement, M.D.K. said that he had come to Ataşehir, Istanbul, to see his wife and children, and that he had gone to the home of his close friend Ener Aktaş, where he saw Turan Yıldırım and Kenan Koçak. He claimed they told him they were going to Edirne and offered to travel together.

“I DID NOT ASK WHO HE WAS”

Stating that he accepted the offer and took Yıldırım and Koçak into his vehicle, M.D.K. said that Aktaş left them, stating that he had some business to attend to in his own vehicle and would join them on the road again after exchanging currency. He added that because he trusted his friend, he did not question who Turan Yıldırım was.

M.D.K. continued his testimony as follows:

“At a gas station, we encountered an individual whom I had previously seen with Ener and whom I remember as İshak A.

After leaving the gas station in two vehicles with Ener, we spoke, and when he said he would cross into Greece via İpsala, Kenan got out of my car and moved to Ener's car.

THE TESTIMONY OF KOÇAK, MERVE ÖZBEY'S HUSBAND, IS AS FOLLOWS;

Suspect contractor Kenan Koçak, the husband of famous singer Merve Özbey, claimed in his testimony that he spoke with his childhood friend, suspect Ener Aktaş, on the evening of January 14, and that Aktaş offered him a two-day trip to Greece because he was overwhelmed by family health problems, an offer he accepted.

Explaining that he went to Aktaş's house on January 15 and encountered Turan Yıldırım, whom he came to know as a result of the investigation, Koçak argued that when they went down to the site's garden a while later, they encountered M.D.K., whom he had known previously, and that he did not know M.D.K. would be joining them.

Stating that they set off for Edirne in two vehicles, that he and Turan Yıldırım moved to Ener Aktaş's vehicle on the way, and that he began driving the vehicle, Koçak claimed that they arrived at the İpsala Border Gate in this manner, and that suspect M.D.K. left them there.

Suspect Koçak noted the following in the continuation of his testimony:

“When we arrived at the İpsala Land Border Gate, Ener told me to pull the vehicle to the far left. After parking the vehicle at the far left in front of the border gate, I took my passport and got out of the vehicle.

I heard Ener tell Turan to prepare his documents. However, I do not know whether he gave his documents afterwards or not. I went to the restroom and completed my exit procedures with the police officer and then the customs enforcement officer who were there.

I did not see Ener with me during this process. After my procedure was finished, I met up with Ener. After he said to me, 'Our procedures are finished too,' we got into the car and exited the border gate with me driving.

There was no control or similar check at the vehicle exit gate. About 2 minutes later, we arrived at the Greek border. There, Turan, Ener, and I presented our passports. The Greek officer said there was a lost/stolen report on Turan's passport, and they did not let Turan into Greece.

Ener and I entered Greece. I do not know whether Turan entered Greece or not.”

CONTRADICTIONS IN THE TESTIMONY WERE ALSO QUESTIONED

Koçak was asked about the contradictory situations in his testimony.

It was pointed out that while Koçak said he did not know suspect V.G., the statements of other suspects regarding this matter were the exact opposite, and that camera footage at the border gate showed him to be with V.G., and he was asked to explain this situation. Koçak claimed that he did not know V.G.

Koçak was also asked about the fact that although he said he got out of the vehicle before Aktaş at the border gate and met up with him after completing his procedures, the footage showed them getting out of the vehicle together and being seen side by side.

Koçak said the following:

“I remember getting out first. Furthermore, I did not witness Commissioner V.G. and Manager M.D.K. talking on the phone. Again, the individual named İshak A., whom I mentioned earlier in my testimony, was not with us inside the border gate.

I saw him in the buffer zone after crossing the Turkish border and before arriving at the Greek border. I do not remember seeing the individual named İshak A. in the building inside the İpsala Border Gate.”