Ece Üner and Öykü Serter testify in Ahbap investigation: 'I posted them in a moment of anger'

Presenter Ece Üner, who provided her statement as part of the Ahbap investigation, said, "If I had known that Haluk Levent would use the collected aid money in this way, I would not have made such a statement or broadcast from the very beginning. I condemn Haluk Levent's actions."

The statement given by presenter Ece Üner as part of the Ahbap investigation has emerged.

In her statement, Üner said, "I know the person named Haluk Levent as the manager of the Ahbap Association, in addition to his identity as an artist. I met him face-to-face for the first time during a program organized by Oğuzhan Uğur on the YouTube channel called Babala TV, following the major earthquake that occurred in our country. Until then, I had never met him face-to-face or spoken to him by phone in any way. We did not speak in the subsequent period either. This matter will be understood from call records if deemed necessary. The statements I made in the live broadcast in response to the criticisms directed at the Ahbap Association, which you asked me about, were not statements made in favor of the Ahbap Association. At that time, I had also shared posts saying 'AFAD is ours, Ahbap is also ours.' My purpose in this statement was to give a message of unity and solidarity in the situation we were in as a country. I personally did not make a donation to the Ahbap Association. Likewise, my bank account transactions can be examined if deemed necessary."

Continuing her statement, Üner said, "At the point we have reached, like other people, I also made posts on my social media account stating that the process should be carried out with transparency regarding the questioning of the source of the donations made. Again, as far as we have learned from the press, if Haluk Levent used the aid money in this way, I also feel deceived. If I had known that Haluk Levent would use the collected aid money in this way, I would not have made such a statement or broadcast from the very beginning. As I said at the beginning of my statement, I made such a statement for that purpose because Haluk Levent was also receiving various thanks and awards from state officials at that time. I regret making such a post at that time. I feel deceived regarding Ahbap. As we can see in Haluk Levent's statement, his defense has no validity. Indeed, I think that this defense and his actions do not fit the public conscience. I had also tweeted six days ago expressing my views in this direction. As I stated there, I condemn Haluk Levent's actions."

Ece Üner left the courthouse after giving her statement.

ÖYKÜ SERTER: I POSTED MY TWEETS IN A MOMENT OF ANGER

Presenter Öykü Serter, who provided her statement as part of the Ahbap investigation, said, "I posted my tweets in a moment of anger. When I was posting those tweets at that time, I was not expressing my feelings because I thought the state's aid organizations were insufficient, but to share in the common pain. I am always against such actions carried out by exploiting people's difficult situations and abusing their emotions."

The statement given by presenter Öykü Serter, who came to the courthouse as part of the Ahbap investigation, has emerged.

"I posted my tweets in a moment of anger"

Serter said, "I worked actively in the field as a reporter during the Adapazarı earthquake that occurred in 1999. I witnessed the process experienced at that time closely. Because of this, I have a personal sensitivity regarding issues related to natural disasters. More precisely, the scenes of people I witnessed personally due to my profession at that time created trauma for me. I personally even pulled body parts out from under the ground at that time. I witnessed people being unable to reach each other. This issue had deeply wounded me. Throughout my professional life, I have been sensitive about issues related to such natural disasters. We experienced great destruction as a country in the 6 February earthquakes that recently occurred in our country. Nearly 50 thousand of our people passed away. Because I am very sensitive about this, I became angry involuntarily. I posted the tweets you showed me in that moment of anger. When I was posting those tweets at that time, I was not expressing my feelings because I thought the state's aid organizations were insufficient, but to share in the common pain."

"It is not possible for me to accept such profit-seeking activities by exploiting people's emotions"

Continuing her statement, Serter said, "I did not direct or refer people to Ahbap or any private aid organization in any way. I do not know the person named Haluk Levent personally. As a matter of principle, I prefer to deliver my aid directly to the people in need. I know that news about fraud regarding Haluk Levent came out a long time ago. Personally, I do not trust communities that engage in this type of aid activity. I have never had any personal relationship with Haluk Levent at any period of my life.

I have not had any commercial relationship or money exchange with him. Likewise, I have not had such a relationship with the association called Ahbap. I did not engage in any aid activity through the Ahbap association. I did not deposit money into the Ahbap association. I did not make any statements that would direct people to the Ahbap association.

As a citizen and a media member, I am of course following the issue regarding the Ahbap investigation, which has occupied the public agenda recently. It is not possible for me to accept such profit-seeking activities by exploiting people's emotions.

Just as I react to aid arriving late or people not being reached, I am always against such actions carried out by exploiting people's difficult situations and abusing their emotions," she said.

News Source: 12punto