Mayor testifies regarding 'money counting' footage in CHP: 'Responsibility lies with the Provincial Presidency'

The investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the money counting footage, which was allegedly filmed at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency and shared on social media, continues.

Within the scope of the investigation, in which 10 suspects had previously testified, Maltepe Mayor Ali Kılıç also testified to the prosecutor's office as the 11th person with the status of 'suspect'.

In his testimony, Kılıç stated, "My friends handed the donation money directly to me because they trusted that I would deliver this money to the CHP Provincial Organization as part of the donation campaign. The responsibility for initiating the campaign and collecting the money lies with the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency."

"I PERSONALLY DONATED 50 THOUSAND LIRA"

In his testimony, suspect Kılıç said, "In the autumn of 2019, it was planned to purchase the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency building with the money to be collected from the 'You Put a Brick Too' donation campaign launched by the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency. This was a matter constantly discussed at party meetings. As a member of the CHP, I also found it appropriate to support this campaign. In this context, I personally donated 50 thousand lira. I also asked my close friends to support this campaign.

"I COLLECTED 200 THOUSAND LIRA IN DONATION MONEY"

I collected a total of 200 thousand lira in donation money, with Ercan Konak donating 50 thousand lira, Hüseyin Kalkan 50 thousand lira, and Vedat Ali Aydın 50 thousand lira. My friends handed the donation money directly to me because they trusted that I would deliver this money to the CHP Provincial Organization as part of the donation campaign. I was constantly keeping the donation money I collected with me because if any other donations were made in the environment I was in, I would add them to this donation amount and deliver them to the person I was told to."

"THEY SENT AN ADDRESS VIA PHONE"

Stating that someone from the CHP Istanbul Provincial Organization called him and asked him to take the money to an address they specified, Kılıç said the following:

"They sent me an address via phone. I was not available, so I called Melih Morsümbül and asked him to come to where I was. I gave him a total of 200 thousand lira and asked him to take it to the address provided. He did as he was told; I did not give him any person's name. He took the money to the specified address on the same day and said he delivered it to the people there. The matter ended there.

"RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH THE CHP ISTANBUL PROVINCIAL PRESIDENCY"

At that time, everyone was mobilized to purchase the party building. For this reason, I did not think it was very important whether a receipt was taken the moment we gave the money. I thought the CHP Istanbul Provincial Organization would send me the donation receipts later. Only the donation money made by myself and my close friends was sent there to support the purchase of the Provincial Building.

No one asked me personally to make a donation. At the meetings, everyone was constantly asked to volunteer for this campaign to the extent of their means. I also supported the campaign voluntarily. The responsibility for initiating the campaign and collecting the money lies with the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency. I have no information about whether the money paid in cash for the purchased Provincial Building was recorded as a party expense."

News Source: İHA