AKP confession from Murat Kapki, detained in IMM case! 'I provided them for free'

In the case concerning the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), advertising executive Murat Kapki announced that he is retracting the statements he previously made under the scope of effective remorse. In his defense, Kapki said, "I became a confessor under the direction of the prosecutors. I am retracting the statements I previously gave under the scope of effective remorse."

The 74th day of the trial, which includes 414 defendants, 53 of whom are detained, including IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, was held in the new courtroom at the Marmara Closed Prison in Silivri.

During the hearing, former Kültür AŞ General Manager Serdal Taşkın was the first to present his defense. Taşkın stated that the methods subject to the tender accusations against him had been in practice since 2014 and that no issues had been identified during Court of Accounts audits. Responding to the statements of the confessing defendants, Taşkın noted that he was not employed at Kültür AŞ on some of the dates mentioned in the accusations.

Taking the floor afterward, Murat Kapki made evaluations regarding the charge of membership in an organization against him. According to the report by Cumhuriyet, Kapki argued that one of the goals of the organization he is accused of belonging to was shown as ensuring Ekrem İmamoğlu's election victory; however, he claimed that he provided the advertising channels he operated free of charge for the campaigns of the AKP and its candidates in the 2018, 2019, and 2024 elections.

Referring to the "Thank You Istanbul" banners hung in Istanbul after the 2019 elections, Kapki said, "What kind of organization member am I that I am fighting against Ekrem İmamoğlu? After the election was lost in 2019, 'Thank You Istanbul' banners were hung. Those were my billboards. I am not even a CHP member. AKP officials know this best."

Stating that he was invited to the AKP İstanbul Provincial Headquarters after the election, Kapki reported that he was told there, "How can we help you? You helped us a lot."

News Source: 12punto