Pro-government media claims debunked: IMM responds to bribery allegations

The claim that businessman Ali Nuhoğlu, who became a whistleblower after being arrested as part of an investigation into the IMM, was owed 500 million TL by the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) and gave two villas in Sarıyer worth 1.5 billion TL to Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in exchange for this debt, received extensive coverage in pro-government media outlets. The claims have been refuted by the IMM with documents.

LIE: A villa worth 1.5 billion TL was given as a bribe to İmamoğlu's company in exchange for a 500 million TL debt from İSKİ.

TRUTH: Ali Nuhoğlu claims to have given a bribe worth 1.5 billion TL for a 500 million TL debt. This is contrary to basic economic logic, let alone commercial sense. There is not a single kuruş of transfer to the alleged individuals or companies in İSKİ's payment records.

LIE: 215 million TL was transferred off the books from İSKİ's accounts.

TRUTH: No work was given to the mentioned company during the İmamoğlu administration. The payments are for work completed during the AKP era. The '3 villas in Emirgan' mentioned in the claims do not match property records.

LIE: The villas were purchased with public funds and transferred to İmamoğlu İnşaat.

TRUTH: According to public documents, 100 percent of the shares of Güllüce Tarımcılık A.Ş. were purchased by İmamoğlu İnşaat A.Ş. for 48 million TL. The payment was made in installments via a protocol and is registered with a notary. Bribery does not happen in installments, with a notary, or on credit.

LIE: İmamoğlu hid the villas in his asset declaration.

TRUTH: İmamoğlu's personal assets and the real estate owned by İmamoğlu İnşaat A.Ş. are separate corporate entities.