Pro-government media continues to expose secret witnesses: The individual whose testimony led to arrests turns out to be an AKP candidate
It has been revealed that Oktay Tan, the "secret witness" whose testimony led to arrests in the investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), was an AKP parliamentary candidate in 2018. It was learned that Tan, who was exposed in a report by Sabah Newspaper, had served in AKP organizations and held a provincial representative position at TÜGVA.
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While arrest warrants are being issued based on secret witness testimonies in the ongoing investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), media outlets close to the government have begun to expose these witnesses. A detail included in a report by Sabah Newspaper has further fueled the controversy surrounding the investigation.
The report revealed that the secret witness who claimed that IBB Medya AŞ Chairman of the Board Murat Ongun had taken bribes from him was advertiser Oktay Tan. However, the striking point was Oktay Tan's background. It was learned that Tan was an AKP parliamentary candidate in the 2018 General Elections.
HE SERVED IN AKP ORGANIZATIONS
Oktay Tan did not just stop at being an AKP candidate. He served as a member of the promotion and media commission in the Kadıköy and Ataşehir AKP district organizations. Furthermore, he also undertook the role of provincial representative at the Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), among whose founders is Bilal Erdoğan, the son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
ONGUN: "I DO NOT KNOW THIS PERSON"
When Oktay Tan's secret witness status was exposed in the Sabah Newspaper report, Murat Ongun made a harsh statement on his social media account. Stating that he does not know Tan at all and has never had a business relationship with him, Ongun said the following:
"His name is Oktay Tan; Sabah Newspaper introduced him. He is one of the so-called witnesses who caused us to be in prison right now. Oktay Tan has declared that, upon our Mayor's instruction, I took bribes from him and that he met some of my requests.
I do not know this person at all, I have never talked business with him even once, and I have no contact with him even by phone. So, how can he make this slander against me so easily?"
Expressing his suspicion that Tan was given assurances that he would not be harmed, Ongun stated that he would use all legal avenues:
"It is clear that he was given assurances that he would not be harmed even if he gave this testimony. I will still take all legal actions against him. He will eventually be held accountable for these slanders. Those who are in the right have both time and patience."
ARE THE INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTS INCOMPLETE?
While it is alleged that there is no tangible evidence in the IBB investigation, which is announced in the pro-government media with headlines such as "corruption evidence" and "bribery revelations," it is stated that the investigation is largely based on secret witness testimonies.