Striking allegations in CHP convention investigation: 'I stole a 50 million dollar document'

In the investigation into allegations that "votes were cast in exchange for money on the day of the convention" at the CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention held on November 4-5, 2023, suspended Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, former Istanbul Planning Agency President Buğra Gökçe, and Servet Yıldırım gave statements as "suspects," while M.A.B. testified as a "witness."

In the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, M.A.B., who testified to the prosecutor as a witness, explained that he works in real estate in Istanbul and carried out renovations for a school in Ataşehir in 2021.

Stating that the cafeteria outside the school was operated by Hasan Hüseyin İlgezdi, the nephew of the then-Ataşehir Mayor Battal İlgezdi, and his wife, M.A.B. said that a rapport developed between them during the time he was doing the school's renovation work. M.A.B. stated, "I am from Malatya, and these people are also from Malatya. During the convention, CHP members would come to this cafe to hold meetings, and I would attend these meetings as well. I met Battal İlgezdi at these meetings and became close with him."

M.A.B. reported that on November 5-6, 2023, at the cafe, Battal İlgezdi said, "The documents regarding the source of the money distributed at the convention are here; if they don't nominate me, I will use this," and handed the documents to Hasan Hüseyin İlgezdi.

Witness M.A.B. noted the following:

"I used to drop off and pick up Hasan Hüseyin İlgezdi's young daughter from school. I would also go in and out of his house, and I had a key to his home. I was very close with them and visited their house frequently. I stole a one-page document from their home that bore the signatures of Ekrem İmamoğlu and Özgür Özel, which I mentioned. This document contained content stating that money sent by a FETÖ member who is a fugitive in the USA and obtained from currency exchange offices in Laleli, Istanbul, was received to be used in the convention and party rallies. There were also phrases stating it would be used 'for a freer and fairer Turkey.' When I took this document, I put it in a plastic folder to preserve it. I took precautions so that my fingerprints would not be on it."

"A sum of 40 or 50 million dollars was being mentioned"

Claiming that he handed the document in question to a person named Ayhan T., the owner of a cafe in Ataşehir, Istanbul, M.A.B. said that he was later asked to deliver the document to official authorities.

Claiming that Hasan Hüseyin İlgezdi became his enemy after realizing the document had been stolen from his home, M.A.B. explained the following:

"Whenever I ran into or saw Ayhan T., I asked him what he did with the document. He told me, 'I gave this document to an authorized official in the state.' I asked him, 'Mr. Ayhan, let nothing happen to this document, who is this authorized person?' He did not give me a name, but one day he called me on the phone and said that he was with the official he gave the document to, and that he could have me meet with him if I went to them. A sum of 40 or 50 million dollars was being mentioned in the content of this document. Since time has passed and the document is not with me, I do not remember the details. I think Ayhan T. is keeping this document. I am not a CHP member. I have no hostility toward anyone. I told what I knew and saw for the purpose of informing the public."

Suspect Rıza Akpolat, the Beşiktaş Mayor who was arrested and suspended from his post as part of an investigation into a criminal organization in Istanbul, stated that he has served as a youth branch manager, district manager, Bahçelievler District President for 5 years, acting provincial president for 2 years, and as Beşiktaş Mayor for 6 years.

Defending that he knew nothing about the allegations regarding votes being cast in exchange for providing benefits to certain party representatives during the 38th Ordinary Convention held in Ankara, Akpolat stated, "I have been actively involved in politics for a long time. During my tenure, I have attended many conventions as a convention delegate. Neither in this convention nor in previous conventions, nor in the party memory passed down to us by our elders, have I ever encountered any situation that compromised the free will of a delegate with offers of positions or titles."

Rejecting the witness testimony that he bargained with delegates in exchange for voting for CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Akpolat said he did not know the witnesses and that the allegations were baseless.

''I HAD NO REQUEST TO MEET WITH ANYONE''

Suspect Buğra Gökçe, the former President of the Istanbul Planning Agency, also explained that he held public office from 1996 to 2023 and became a member of the CHP after resigning from civil service.

Claiming that the witness statements did not reflect the truth, Gökçe said, "During the convention process, I had no request to meet with anyone, including Ekrem İmamoğlu. Because I do not hold any duty or responsibility in any part of CHP delegate politics. I do not know the names mentioned or any of the people said to be intermediaries."

Servet Yıldırım stated that he has been the official driver for businessman Hüseyin Köksal for 13 years and that although he appears as a deputy general manager in the company owned by Köksal, he actually works as a driver.

In response to the question "whether any of his relatives started working at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) before or after the 38th Ordinary Convention held in Ankara," Yıldırım replied, "My brother works at İspark. He applied to get a job and waited for about 2 years. I remember he started working later in 2019 or 2020. None of my other relatives work for the municipality or its subsidiaries."

Yıldırım argued that the witness testimony claiming he took money he received from a currency exchange office in Laleli, Istanbul, to Ankara to distribute to delegates before the convention did not reflect the truth.