Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün's testimony: 'I wish one of them were true'

Among those arrested yesterday as part of the investigation were Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, her husband Celal Tekin, Deputy Mayor of Büyükçekmece Ömer Kazancı, former CHP MP Aykut Erdoğdu, CHP PM member Baki Aydöner, Ağaç ve Peyzaj AŞ General Manager Ali Sukas, İSFALT General Manager Burak Korzay, advisor to the Beylikdüzü Mayor Veysel Erçevik, Deputy Mayor of Avcılar Mehmet Mandacı, Deputy Mayor of Avcılar Erhan Daka, Deputy Mayor of Büyükçekmece Rıza Can Özdemir, Deputy Mayor of Büyükçekmece Ömer Kazancı, and İsmet Abacı, the father of Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Alican Abacı. 

According to the report by Ceylan Sever from Habertürk, the testimonies of Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün and his deputy Ömer Kazancı have emerged.

"I WISH ONE OF THEM WERE TRUE"

In his testimony, Mayor Hasan Akgün stated that he is the only person who has been involved in municipal administration in this country without interruption since 1975, saying, “I read the prosecutor's request; it pained me. I wish even one of them were true. I have provided my explanations regarding these matters both today and to the police, along with my documents.

It pains me as a public servant of 50 years and 6 months who has carried out this duty for this country without interruption. Recently, due to the murky political climate in Istanbul, there are adversaries who have been unable to extract rent from me despite my being elected mayor for 40 years, for 7 terms.

Now they have said, 'Let's attack Hasan Akgün like wolves and take revenge.' Hayrettin Mermer says that Ali Nuhoğlu was going to build the roads for his construction project and that our deputy mayor Nuray directed it; first of all, this Hayrettin Mermer is someone who produces marble in our region, and every kind of convenience has been shown to him,” he said.

"WE DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE ANNUAL PROGRAM"

Stating that the zoning director was being blamed after defects were identified in a construction firm's projects, Hasan Akgün said, “However, after the municipality issues a permit, it is the construction inspection firms authorized by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization that check whether that permit is being followed; construction permits are not issued without a building inspection firm. Here, individuals are complaining because there is a deficiency in the piles installed under the garden houses.

Then the incident is transferred to the municipality. Here, the building inspection firm is obliged to notify the municipality within 3 days. I reject these statements by Hayrettin; municipalities build roads according to the annual investment plan. Since 2019, the budget opportunities of municipalities have been extremely narrowed.

We cannot deviate from the annual program just so contractors can profit. Ali Nuhoğlu is being portrayed as if he is the municipality's permanent contractor; I have only seen him once, and he has only taken work from us once,” he stated.

AKGÜN: MY SON-IN-LAW HAS NO BUSINESS WITH EXCAVATION

Stating that the claim that his son-in-law and brother are fugitives is not true, Hasan Akgün said, “My son-in-law is the owner of Kaşıbeyaz restaurants. He returned from Europe a week ago to attend a fair; there is no question of him being a fugitive. His brother is also at his job. They have no relationship with excavation work in any way. There is talk of illegal excavation in many places in Büyükçekmece. This district is one of the most important water collection basins in Istanbul; there can be no question of a soil dumping site. İSKİ and the Metropolitan Municipality do not let a bird fly in this area; 3-4 people have done illegal dumping in this area, they have been fined dozens of times, and their cases are ongoing. Our lawsuits regarding toxic substances and excavation waste dumped into the basin are ongoing. Mert is my brother's son. He is completely focused on his work,” he said.

"I DID NOT PRESSURE ANYONE"

Denying the allegation that he used his influence, Akgün said, “It has been said that it was observed that Hasan Akgün did business by using his influence in some places. I have no connection with the mentioned works. We are supposedly pressuring and threatening a person named Mansur; I haven't even heard his name. I definitely did not pressure anyone, and I would not. Sponsorships have come up in the matters we are accused of. Ömer Kazancı is our deputy mayor. Büyükçekmece has many sports clubs. The basketball team is also a team playing in the Super League. Thanks to the Büyükçekmece Basketball team, sponsors get more than 250 hours of advertising on TRT and other TV screens,” he said.

"IT IS NOT EASY FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE"

Stating that one of the sponsors is the holding company of the arrested businessman Kemal Şahin, Akgün continued his testimony as follows:

“Our sponsors are Tüyap, Arel University, and Şahinler Holding. I do not know the owner of the holding; I don't know what happened after they said they would be a sponsor. It is said that money is being transferred to me through sponsorship. All the money from those who sponsor is definitely in the bank records of the Büyükçekmece Sports Club. The Sports Club has a legal personality.

They have divided the sports club's debt into installments, stating that it will pay its debts over a 10-year period. If this support were not given to sports clubs, which sports club could survive? I want to address the issue of sponsorship in terms of the country's traditions and customs.

All municipalities have done important work with sponsors. We have also done a lot of work with the people here, with industrialists, and with people who are passionate about sports. 36 schools have been built and handed over to the state. These were built by our business people. More than 28 mosques were also built through sponsors.

More than 15 family health centers were built by sponsors. The Büyükçekmece Courthouse was built turnkey by the municipality. We do not take these out of our own coffers.

These were done through sponsors. If it weren't for sponsors in this country, it would not be easy to provide the services that municipalities offer. If Başakşehirspor is playing in the Super League today, it has come to this point thanks to sponsors. We have never been in need of anyone until today, and I have never set my eyes on anyone's rights. I have not allowed anyone to set their eyes on anyone's rights either. Facing such a request for arrest is the saddest event of my life.”

News Source: 12punto