Allegations of message traffic in Ahbap investigation: Former lawyer's testimony added to the file

In the Ahbap Association investigation, which is reportedly being conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, new allegations have emerged regarding the artist Haluk Levent's debt relations with certain individuals. It is stated that in the digital materials allegedly reflected in the file, WhatsApp messages concerning the money traffic between Levent, his former lawyer Mehmet Söğüt, and gallery owner Mehmet Ulu have been examined.

According to the allegations, donations collected through the Ahbap Association following the February 6 earthquakes and check transactions linked to the association have come under scrutiny. In the correspondence examined as part of the investigation, it is claimed that Levent borrowed large sums from some people in his circle and did not respond to his creditors regarding payments.

FORMER LAWYER'S TESTIMONY IN THE FILE

It was reported that Mehmet Söğüt, who is said to have served as Haluk Levent's lawyer for approximately 20 years, explained in his testimony that at Levent's request, he sent money to the accounts of the artist's assistant Yeliz Kaya, his driver Zafer Yay, and some employees with the description "debt." It was noted that Söğüt stated he could not reach Levent when the payment time came and that he was being avoided.

Söğüt reportedly stated that he went to the Ahbap Association's office several times to collect his receivables but found the office closed. According to the account allegedly entered into the file, Söğüt claimed that to stall him, Levent sent a photo of a check in which his assistant Yeliz Kaya appeared as a creditor of the Ahbap Association, saying, "When this check is paid, your debt will also be closed."

In the digital examinations, it is alleged that Söğüt sent a photo of the door of the Ahbap office used by Levent to Berkant Acil and used the expression, "It only takes a couple of bullets to open it, brother." It was stated that the same message traffic included expressions indicating that many people were written to regarding the checks, but no response was received from the parties.

In Söğüt's testimony, which is said to be reflected in the file, it was argued that "he is the real victim" and that the process stemmed from an uncollectible debt relationship.

GALLERY OWNER MEHMET ULU'S MESSAGES

It is alleged that the messages sent to Haluk Levent by gallery owner Mehmet Ulu, another person mentioned in the investigation, were also examined. It was reported that in his messages, Ulu used expressions such as, "Brother, you are putting me in a very difficult situation... You have ruined my psychology, Haluk brother," and that Levent also sent him images of checks.

In another correspondence, it was stated that Ulu wrote, "Brother, good morning, are you going to pay this friend's 100 thousand dollars today... Brother, pay this man's money." In the examinations, it was claimed that there was a debt-receivable relationship between the parties for different amounts, and checks for 13 million, 7.5 million, 5 million, 3 million, 600 thousand, and 500 thousand liras were brought to the agenda.

It was reported that in the messages Ulu allegedly sent to Levent's driver Cengiz Kara, he wrote that he could not collect his receivables, that calls were not answered, and that he was in a difficult situation due to the checks. It was noted that in his testimony, Ulu claimed that Levent stalled him with faulty or bounced checks.

The messages and testimonies allegedly reflected in the investigation file show that the money movements around the Ahbap Association and personal debt relations are being examined together. The assessment of official authorities regarding the process and the potential defenses of the parties will become clear in the later stages of the investigation.