Mayor Hasan Akgün: If you are in municipal government, you must have a heart of steel

The hearing for the Büyükçekmece Municipality Case, in which a total of 31 defendants—including Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün—are being tried, with 5 currently in custody, continued.

The hearing, held at the Çağlayan Courthouse by the Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court, was attended by the detained individuals, including Hasan Akgün, who has been held in Silivri for 1 year and 3 months and faces a requested prison sentence ranging from 68 to 183 years. CHP Şanlıurfa MP Mahmut Tanal also followed the hearing.

The lawyers for the detained defendants took the floor, requesting that the deficiencies in the file be addressed and providing statements regarding release.

The detained defendants then made statements. Hasan Akgün began his remarks by saying, "Municipal government is a very difficult job in Turkey. If you are doing municipal work in Turkey, you must have a heart of steel."

Continuing by describing the demands citizens made of him during his tenure as mayor and his efforts to respond to those demands, Akgün said, "One of the letters I received in prison said, 'Our sports hall is collapsing.' From Silivri prison, I am looking for a solution to get that sports hall built for those children. At most, one more page will be added to our file."

"The Minister told me to 'find a sponsor'"

Stating that he had explained a festival they were planning to organize as a municipality to the then-Minister of Culture and Tourism, Akgün reported that the Minister had responded by telling him to "seek support from sponsors." Akgün said, "I explained the importance of the art festival we were going to organize to our Minister, and he acknowledged its importance and told me to seek support from sponsors."

"Not a single penny of illicit money has passed through my children's throats"

Akgün concluded his remarks by saying, "What crime have I committed? What kind of organization have I established and managed? I am a mayor who has been elected 7 times in a row. Not a single penny of illicit money has passed through my throat or my children's throats."

"There is no concrete evidence"

Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Ömer Kazancı, who then made a statement, argued that there was no "concrete evidence" in the file regarding the accusations against him, primarily the charge of being part of an "organization." Emphasizing that the indictment was prepared 340 days after his arrest, Kazancı criticized the document.

"As a person who loves their country and nation, I have always tried to instill this in my children," said Kazancı, adding, "I have been away from them for 16 months. I am only asking for release for my children. Otherwise, I would go and serve my time in prison like a gentleman."

Following the completion of the statements, the prosecutor at the hearing expressed an opinion for the continued detention of Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Deputy Mayor Ömer Kazancı, and businesspeople Adem Çukur, Mehmet Kılıç, and Osman Yeşilgül.

The court panel decided that the 5 detained defendants, including Akgün, would remain in custody. The next hearing will be held on November 16.

News Source: 12punto