Businessman summoned for testimony in IMM investigation arrested

As part of the investigations conducted into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), Mehmet İlhan Gülay, an Executive Board Member of Gülaylar Altın, was arrested yesterday following his testimony.

According to a report by Ceylan Sever from HaberTürk, businessman Mehmet İlhan Gülay stated in his testimony that he is a 50 percent partner in Gülaylar Altın. He then made the following statement:

"I purchased the land located at block 1046, parcel 200, and the adjacent parcel in the İçerenköy neighborhood of Istanbul's Ataşehir district from a holding company called Bainbridge in 2018. When we purchased it, there were numerous lawsuits involving the IMM regarding the land, specifically concerning metro exit points and ISPARK construction projects. After we acquired the land, we discussed these issues with the municipal administration at the time, and under the presidency of then-IMM Mayor Mevlüt Uysal, I signed a protocol in exchange for dropping the lawsuits and ceding approximately 60 decares of the land to the IMM."

"NEGOTIATIONS WERE CONDUCTED UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF MEVLÜT UYSAL"

Stating that the IMM administration changed following the 2019 local elections, Gülay noted that a secretary-general, whose surname he could not fully recall, contacted him during this process. He said, "In 2019, an IMM Secretary-General named Yavuz, whose surname I cannot recall at the moment, called and contacted us. We held various meetings with him to ensure the implementation of the aforementioned protocol and to resolve the disputes. During this period, Yavuz stated that Yakup Öner would follow up on the matter and directed us to him. In the intervening period, we waived our rights to the lawsuits, and in return for this waiver, the IMM Assembly's Zoning and Public Works Urban Renewal Commission changed the zoning density for the land in a decision dated January 12, 2023. However, although this density was increased from 0.75 to 1.5, the density in the surrounding and neighboring parcels is 2.07. Furthermore, at the time this decision was made—I cannot recall the exact date—an additional protocol was signed stipulating that 4,000 to 5,000 square meters of indoor space from the construction to be built on this land would be ceded to the municipality upon completion. While the parcels totaled 228,022 square meters, we ceded approximately 60,000 square meters to the municipality. Additionally, at the request of Tevfik Göksu, who was the group deputy chairman at the time, we agreed to include the construction of a mosque within the parcel and our own land. This matter was also added to the plan notes."

"THE AKP MEMBER WHO GRANTED COMMISSION PERMISSION IS THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF SULTANGAZİ"

Denying the bribery accusations, Mehmet İlhan Gülay also emphasized that the land had not received zoning permits.

"Due to the age and illness of our company partner İhsan Gülay, he has no involvement or knowledge of these matters. I absolutely reject the bribery allegation mentioned in the secret witness's statement. We have not even been able to obtain any zoning permit for the land in question. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy in the floor area ratio (FAR) between our plot and the surrounding parcels that works to our disadvantage. Moreover, Adnan Zeki Bostan, who is named as the chairman in the commission decision that allowed for the FAR increase, is currently the AK Party IMM Group Deputy Chairman; Mehmet Yiğit is the Deputy Mayor of Sultangazi. It is impossible for these individuals to be associated with an Ekrem İmamoğlu criminal organization. I do not accept the accusations brought against me," he stated.

"CHP COUNCIL MEMBERS OPPOSED THE ZONING CHANGE"

Gülay's lawyer, Yaşar Yetiş, reminded the court that the land was purchased in 2018 and argued that the process had been conducted within a legal framework from the very beginning.

"The procedures regarding our acquisition began in 2018 during the term of the then-AK Party mayor and were completed as determined at that time. In fact, while these efforts were ongoing, the zoning change that is the subject of the bribery allegation was passed in the IMM Assembly with the votes of AK Party council members and even despite the opposition of CHP members. Furthermore, the implementation in the approved zoning note, which should have been in favor of the alleged briber, was actually to his detriment; the rights the client benefited from in the zoning note were more limited compared to his peers. This alone is proof that the bribery allegation is not true," he said, requesting his client's release.

However, the court decided to arrest Mehmet İlhan Gülay on the grounds that there was a "suspicion of flight."

News Source: 12punto