Testimony of Bahçetepe, detained in the 5th wave operation, revealed! 'I did not commit a crime'

The 5th wave operation, part of an investigation into "corruption" allegations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, began on May 31 by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Detention warrants were issued for 47 people across 4 separate investigations, including Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Adana Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, Adana Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, IMM Deputy Secretary General Erdal Celal Aksoy, CHP Party Assembly member Baki Aydöner, and former CHP MP Aykut Erdoğdu. In line with the decision, a total of 38 people have been detained so far in operations carried out by police teams. 

Those detained and whose procedures at the police station were completed underwent health checks at the hospital. It was learned that among those detained, 1 person was arrested due to health problems, while 1 person was released due to health issues. As 36 people were referred to the courthouse, their interrogation procedures began. 

Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe, who was detained following the 'effective remorse' testimony of businessperson Aziz İhsan Aktaş, whom the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office identified as a "criminal organization leader," was also asked about Aktaş's statement. Bahçetepe denied the allegations. 

Bahçetepe answered the question regarding the real estate, vehicles, and other assets registered in his name by saying, "After my wedding in 2022, I purchased farmland in the Babaeski district of Kırklareli. I have approximately 300,000 TL in my stock market account at İş Bankası, which I opened and saved in between 2021-2022, and I have approximately 200,000 TL in my Individual Pension account at İş Bankası registered in my name. Other than these, I have no other assets registered in my name." 

Bahçetepe additionally replied, "I have been residing in my aunt's house in the family apartment building in the Gaziosmanpaşa district, which is not registered in my name but is in my use, since 2012. Other than this, there is no other asset, vehicle, etc., registered in someone else's name that is in my use." 

AZİZ İHSAN AKTAŞ'S TESTIMONY WAS ASKED

Bahçetepe gave the following response to the questions directed at him regarding Aziz İhsan Aktaş's 'effective remorse' testimony:

"I heard the name of the person named Aziz İhsan Aktaş for the first time in my life from the media when the operation was carried out on the Beşiktaş Municipality. I also heard the names of the individuals Ramazan Murat Aktaş and Tekin Aktaş, who are claimed to be his brothers, and the companies titled Barka, Bilginay, and İldeniz, which are claimed to be theirs, for the first time here due to your question. I also heard the names Mert Çolak and Dilan Çolak in the same way here due to your question; I do not know them. I know the person named Erkan Başgürboğa because he is a member of the CHP Gaziosmanpaşa district branch. I also know the person named Şaban Caner Güler because he is a member of the CHP Gaziosmanpaşa district branch. I also know the person named İbrahim Tuncay because he is a member of the CHP Gaziosmanpaşa district youth branch. These friends of ours had a need for a car for public service purposes (home visits, mask distribution, patient visits, food aid distribution, etc.) and used them.

I did not make any request for money from the person named Baki Aydöner. I also did not have any request for money from the person named Özer Ayık. Therefore, it is out of the question for me to have received any money.

I do not know the person named Burak Bayrak and the firm named Güven Asfalt; I do not know the owners of these firms. The HTS records of the person named Özer Ayık do not mean anything to me; therefore, I have no information.

I have no connection or relation to the allegations stated in the testimony of the person named Aziz İhsan Aktaş. Baki Aydöner has been my friend from the party for about 9-10 years. We attend each other's weddings and funerals. The meetings I had with Baki Aydöner were meetings held for this reason. Other than a congratulatory visit to the municipality, I have never had a face-to-face or telephone conversation with Özer Ayık regarding the alleged subject."