Ministry of Justice issues statement regarding Akın Gürlek's photo taken in New York

The Ministry of Justice has issued a statement regarding a photograph taken during the program at Türkevi attended by Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, who is in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The statement noted that B.Ç., who is stated to be the subject of an arrest warrant within the scope of the case known in the public eye as the "fund investigation," also appeared in the photograph in question.

The Ministry stated that Gürlek does not personally know the individual in the photograph. According to the statement, B.Ç. approached Minister Gürlek to take a photo while accompanying a well-known businessperson during the program at Türkevi.

"CONSISTS OF A SPONTANEOUS ENCOUNTER"

It was noted that at the time the photo was taken, Gürlek had no knowledge of the individual's identity or the judicial process being conducted against him. The Ministry emphasized that the image does not constitute a pre-planned meeting or a private reception; it consisted merely of a spontaneous encounter during the program.

The statement indicated that an arrest warrant had been issued for B.Ç. within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering Crimes Investigation Bureau, and that it had been determined the individual was abroad.

The Ministry announced that the judicial process for the apprehension of B.Ç. is ongoing. The statement further expressed that there is no acquaintance, contact, or patronage relationship between Gürlek and the individual in question, and stated that in judicial processes, evidence and the law are taken as the basis, not the status or social circle of individuals.