İmamoğlu's advisor responds to bribery allegations from prison: 'For investment purposes'

Necati Özkan, one of the advisors to Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu who is currently detained as part of an investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, has responded to allegations that he was "given 4 apartments as a bribe" via his lawyers from Kocaeli Prison.

Stating that the reports appearing on social media and in some media outlets since yesterday are entirely false and defamatory, and that he therefore felt compelled to make a statement, Özkan refuted the allegations as follows:

"Kameroğlu Construction is a former client of mine for whom I worked for years. Between 2003 and 2015, I worked with many construction companies and managed the sales campaigns for dozens of projects.

Among these were Kameroğlu Construction's Pelikan Hill and Pelikan Residence projects. While conducting the campaigns for these projects, I worked directly with Adem Kameroğlu himself. In fact, the request for me to work with them came from Adem Kameroğlu himself."

"FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES"

Özkan also made the following statement regarding the Metro Home Project mentioned in the reports:

"In 2018, a friend of mine who lives in Canada and is also my partner asked for my help in finding an affordable apartment to stay in when he visited during the summer months.

After researching, I found the Metro Home project suitable and recommended it to my friend. While buying an apartment for him, I also purchased 3 small apartments for investment purposes upon the personal recommendation of Adem Kameroğlu. These apartments were purchased entirely with my own means and the payments were made personally by me.

When the delivery of the project was delayed, I sold these apartments. All of these purchases and sales were in accordance with the law and regulations, and the taxes were paid in full. Contracts, bank receipts, and documents proving the taxes I paid regarding these genuine purchases and sales will be submitted to the case file by my lawyers."

"I MANAGED THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS"

Expressing that attempts are being made to create evidence for unjust accusations, Necati Özkan noted the following:

"We have been unjustly declared guilty and taken captive along with Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu without any basis. Since the allegations in the file are empty, new ways are being sought by putting pressure on people. While in a state of law, one should proceed from evidence to the culprit, attempts are being made to create evidence and culprits through statements taken from people under pressure and intimidation.

Everything that has been done is unlawful and constitutes character assassination. Today, I learned from information reflected in open sources about the content of the statement Adem Kameroğlu gave against me. First of all, he said he did not know me. Looking at the statement he gave, I understand how afraid he must have been to make it.

However, we worked together for years with a professional understanding upon his request, and I managed his projects' advertising campaigns. According to what I have heard, people who are currently detained in the İBB case and other cases are being pressured to testify against me.

Leave people alone. I have said it dozens of times. I am a person who respects the law. All the earnings I have obtained through my own talent for 42 years are legal, tax-paid, and honest earnings."

News Source: 12punto