Cem Küçük claims 'concert operation against ABB will expand!' He named 3 districts

Within the scope of the investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality between 2021 and 2024, 14 people were detained on allegations of causing public loss.

Of those detained, 9 were referred to the Duty Magistrate's Court with a request for arrest, and 5 with a request for judicial control.

5 PEOPLE ARRESTED

The Ankara Duty Magistrate's Court issued arrest warrants for H.A.B., former Head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality; H.E., former Deputy Branch Manager of Cultural Events/former Acting Head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs; H.Z., former Acting Head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs; O.E., owner of Evren Teknik Grup Müzik Organizasyon San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.; and S.Ç., one of the partners of Enfest Organizasyon Turizm San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.

JUDICIAL CONTROL DECISION FOR 9 PEOPLE

The court decided to release A.A.Ç., former Acting Branch Manager of Cultural Events; C.A., Acting Branch Manager of Cultural Events; K.B., Acting Branch Manager of Cultural Events; K.A., partner of Enfest Organizasyon Turizm San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.; S.E., owner of the Univerce company; A.A., owner of the Gurudan company; E.D. and L.E., partners of the Yalınayak company; and O.C.T., a Metropolitan Municipality employee, under judicial control conditions.

It was noted that the individuals detained for misconduct and bid-rigging were arrested on charges of 'bid-rigging' and 'embezzlement'.

Speaking on TGRT Haber, which is close to the government, journalist Fatih Atik made striking claims regarding the investigation. Suggesting that the investigation would expand following the arrests, Atik claimed that one of the detained suspects had become a 'confessor' and stated the following:

"The first confessor was a suspect named Osman Cem Baştaş. The confessor said, 'When organizing concerts, we would first ask the mayor's private secretary for the decision, and then the mayor would approve it.' This is important because the Mayor and his team had said they were outside of these matters. In any case, that is how the process normally works. Department heads conduct the tenders, and the authority to sign rests with the department heads.

But we all know that in no municipality can a step be taken without the mayor's approval. Neither a tender can be held nor a purchase can be made without the mayor's knowledge. In other words, mayors know everything. Therefore, Osman Cem Baştaş confessed to the prosecutors today what everyone already knows.

As far as I know, and I am following this investigation in Ankara, some additional names are preparing to become confessors. In other words, new confessors will emerge. I have received information that 3-4 more people will benefit from effective remorse and become confessors. Of course, then where will this file reach, who will it reach? When new confessions come, new detentions are expected in Ankara, just as in Istanbul."

CEM KÜÇÜK CLAIMS THE INVESTIGATION WILL EXPAND

Türkiye newspaper columnist Cem Küçük touched upon the earnings artists make from concerts in Turkey, citing Serdar Ortaç's statement that "The top artist in Turkey takes 5 million with their team, and 1 million remains," and also mentioned claims that Tarkan receives figures like 20-30 million.

Küçük also pointed out that the investigation could expand, making the following assessment:

"We are mentioning Etimesgut and Keçiören. The Keçiören Municipality is being talked about a lot. I have heard many things about Keçiören, but since the prosecutor's office hasn't done anything, I won't say anything now. I don't know if something will happen or not. But the same is being said for Çankaya. Therefore, we need to see the prosecutor's indictment."