IMM refutes claims by İlhan Gülay: He had said 'I was forced to donate'

In the statement, which noted that the allegations are false, it was stated: "Expressions such as 'abandonment', 'usufruct', and 'public use' mentioned in the zoning plan notes are not donations, but legal public obligations required by the zoning plan."

The following statements were made in the announcement from the IMM Fact-Check account:

"LIE: The IMM forced businessman Mehmet İlhan Gülay to donate real estate worth approximately 10 million dollars under the instruction of Ekrem İmamoğlu. The lie that the process was managed by Yakup Öner, Buğra Gökçe, and Yavuz Erkut.

TRUTH: The protocol was prepared in accordance with the decisions of the IMM Assembly dated January 12, 2023, numbered 2022/1511 and 2022/1190. These decisions are aimed at planning areas reserved for public benefit such as education, social facilities, fire stations, and underground parking. Expressions such as 'abandonment', 'usufruct', and 'public use' mentioned in the zoning plan notes are not donations, but legal public obligations required by the zoning plan."

"Yavuz Erkut left his position as Secretary General of the IMM in July 2020. He was not even in office on the date subject to the allegations."

"THE CONTRACT WAS BASED ENTIRELY ON LEGAL PROCEDURES"

"LIE: The IMM forced the donation; the lie that the protocol was signed under duress.

TRUTH: In a petition dated 16.11.2023, the company declared that it wanted to make the donation of its own free will and explicitly stated that it had canceled its previous petition. The 'Usufruct Right Establishment and Donation Promise Contract' dated 24.11.2023 was signed with the notary approval of both parties and was based entirely on legal procedures. The contract was prepared based on the Turkish Civil Code, the Code of Obligations, and the Municipal Law, and entered into force with the mutual agreement of the parties."

"During this process, the municipality acted solely in line with zoning regulations and public interest."

"COMPLETELY UNTRUE"

"LIE: The lie that the company was forced to donate by intentionally delaying zoning plans.

TRUTH: The planning process began in 2022 and was shaped by the technical opinions of many institutions, including the Ataşehir Municipal Assembly, the IMM Urban Planning Directorate, and İSKİ. All plans were approved unanimously by the IMM Assembly decision and were open to the public. Commission reports foresee the acquisition of the area for public use in line with the need for social facilities and public services."

"The statement changed by Mehmet İlhan Gülay before his release is completely untrue when looking at his own signed petition, the notarized protocol, the IMM Assembly decisions, and the dates of office of the people he allegedly held responsible. Furthermore, the AK Party held the majority on the date the assembly decision was taken. The Zoning Commission Chairman was also from the AK Party.

The allegations are full of historical, institutional, and legal contradictions. Moreover, the donation protocol was made after the zoning plan was finalized. The fact that the donation protocol was made after the zoning plan passed the assembly is another clear indication that the claim of forced donation is not consistent with reason and logic."

News Source: 12punto