Former CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Kaftancıoğlu's testimony revealed

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an ex officio investigation into the 'money counting' footage circulating on social media, which was allegedly filmed at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters, to uncover the material truth and determine whether any crime or criminal elements were present.

Within the scope of the investigation, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Sports Club President Fatih Keleş, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Vice Chair Özgür Nas, former press advisor to the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency Can Poyraz, Ali Rıza Braka, who allegedly sold the building in question, IMM Construction General Manager Tuncay Yılmaz, and Şişli Deputy Mayor Onur Öksel had previously given statements to the Prosecutor's Office as 'suspects'. It was also learned that Braka's lawyer, Gökhan Taşkapan, had given a statement as a person with knowledge of the matter.

"I HAD SAID, 'I HOPE WE WILL BUY IT TOGETHER, WE WILL DO IT'"

Regarding the matter, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu also arrived at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan to give her statement to the Prosecutor's Office as a 'suspect'. Kaftancıoğlu, who gave a statement for approximately 2 and a half hours, later left the courthouse. Meanwhile, Kaftancıoğlu's statement to the Prosecutor's Office has been revealed. In her testimony, suspect Kaftancıoğlu stated, "I cannot provide a legal definition for being called to testify as a 'suspect' due to footage obtained through illegal means.

If I had been the first person called to testify, I would not have agreed to give a statement regarding these images obtained through illegitimate means when I arrived. I would have stated that first, the process regarding those who caused these illegitimate images and the process involving those who caused them should be uncovered, and that I would tell everything I knew after this matter was clarified.

When I became the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair in February 2018, I had said something at the Istanbul organization's provincial congress. The first was that we would give Istanbul back to the people. In all the provincial congresses I knew of until that day, candidates had promised that they would buy a new building for the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, but unfortunately, they could not buy the Provincial Presidency building. I said that I would not make a promise, but that 'I hope we will buy and build a building worthy of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Organization together with the Istanbul organization'."

"WE WANTED EVERYONE TO CONTRIBUTE"

Kaftancıoğlu continued her testimony, saying, "In 2018, wherever they saw someone in the 39 districts of Istanbul, whoever they talked to from the party, they started looking for a building worthy of the Istanbul organization. Election campaigns started, ended, and subsequently, local election campaigns began. Meanwhile, research for purchasing a provincial building was still ongoing. Let me also provide this detail: the party building in Şişhane was the top 2 floors of a 5-story building.

At one point, the 1st floor went up for sale. We even thought about buying this floor, but due to the fact that there were 2 floors in between that were not for sale and the apartment required too much expense, it was decided not to buy the apartments in this building. The local elections ended, and we started the 'put in a brick yourself' solidarity campaign.

When the campaign was launched, I knew that the provincial building could not be bought with the amount a retired citizen would give, but we wanted everyone to contribute, even if a little, so that they would feel a sense of belonging to the building to be purchased. We carried out campaigns and calls regarding this," she said.

"I WAS PERSISTENT"

Continuing her testimony, Kaftancıoğlu said, "While our search continued, I finally received recommendations from my friends that there was a building for sale in a project in Sarıyer and that this building was suitable for the provincial party building. I went to the place personally, saw it, and liked it very much. We started negotiations. If I remember correctly, the lawyer said the owner wanted 43 or 44 million liras for the building. I stated that bargaining should be done. We had not received the title deeds, but the contract protocol between Emlak Konut and Seas Besicilik.

It had no title deed. When I could not meet with the owner, I told the lawyer that because we are a political party, I could not buy this building based on a promise of sale contract, that I could not sit at the bargaining table under these conditions, and that because we are a political party, whatever price we agreed upon for the purchase, we would officially show that amount in the title deed.

Since political parties do not pay any taxes on real estate purchases, I was particularly persistent about showing the actual purchase value officially in the title deed. There would be no difference for our party whether the price in the title deed was 24 million liras or 41 million liras. As I learned later, since the seller had bought this building about 1 year ago for a lower price than what it was sold to us for, if the actual price was shown in the title deed, he would have had to pay the tax on the difference because he sold the real estate he bought within 5 years," she said.

"IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE TRUTH"

Kaftancıoğlu continued her testimony to the Prosecutor's Office, saying, "At that time, because we had been looking for a building for a long time and I thought the building would suit the CHP provincial organization very well, I agreed to buy the building by accepting the title deed price, which was above the market value conveyed to us by the seller, and paying the remaining part in cash.

All responsibility for this matter belongs to me. After reaching an agreement, I told all my friends that the money paid in cash must be recorded with a report because the donation money collected had to go to the addressee as it was.

Although Taşkapan declared that the sales process started with me and that he was sidelined, this matter does not reflect the truth, and it is not possible for him to have knowledge of this matter. The donations made regarding the campaign are money deposited into the bank and sent to the account officially. I do not know the amount of money sent to the accounts," she said.

"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO FOLLOW"

In her testimony, Kaftancıoğlu said, "I met with the stakeholders of the CHP Istanbul Provincial organization, provincial administrators, district chairs, council members, Istanbul deputies, party members, and party businessmen, and explained the situation that part of the money would be paid in cash. They, thank you, trusted me and accepted this situation. Later, I do not know which district organization or which party administrator received how much money, and it is not possible for me to follow it. I know that the money in the footage is donation money.

It is not possible for me to know whether a receipt was issued. During the purchasing process, we as the CHP did not give a commission to anyone.

I knew that 17 million liras would be given to the seller Ali Rıza Braka at the lawyer's office on December 9, 2019, but the entire amount could not be paid, and it was agreed that the remaining 1 million 490 thousand liras would be paid on the day the title deed was given," she stated.

"TUNCAY YILMAZ BEING THERE WAS STRANGE TO ME TOO"

Stating that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was in Istanbul on the day of the money exchange, Kaftancıoğlu said, "I would accompany the chairman for political work on the days Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was in Istanbul. When Özgür Nas informed me that he would go there that day, I told him that the money paid in cash must be recorded with a report. Of the people who went to the office, I only knew that Özgür Nas would be there. I did not know that the other people were there.

I have not the slightest interest or idea about why and for what purpose Tuncay Yılmaz was there. I do not know him. Tuncay Yılmaz being there was strange to me too. I do not know whether Yılmaz brought money, and if he did, how much he brought.

It is not possible for me to know whether the 17 million liras were recorded as a party expense. Keeping expense records on this matter is not something within my authority and area of duty. There are 9 days left until the election. I believe this investigation is an election campaign conducted by political means against the CHP with 10 days left until the election. I do not accept the accusation against me," she stated.

News Source: İHA