Murat Kapki's prosecutor's statement revealed

Report: 12punto

Advertising executive Murat Kapki, in his statement to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on 18 July, claimed that the tenders awarded to BVA — a company in which he is a partner — by Kültür AŞ in Istanbul were given on the instructions of Murat Ongun and Serdal Taşkın, and that he had heard from Hüseyin Köksal that a portion of the revenue obtained in this process was transferred to Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Businessman Murat Kapki, who is under arrest in the investigation targeting Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), was detained by Istanbul police on 17 March and subsequently arrested and sent to prison.

Approximately four months after giving his first statement, Kapki gave a second statement to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on 18 July. In this statement, he alleged that the tenders obtained from Kültür AŞ — an İBB affiliate — through the BVA company in which he is a partner, were awarded on a pre-determined basis on the instructions of Hüseyin Köksal, Ahmet Köksal, Serdal Taşkın, and Murat Ongun; that 60 percent of the profit obtained was transferred to Ekrem İmamoğlu via Murat Ongun (to "SİSTEM"); and that he knew this because Hüseyin Köksal had told him personally.

Murat Kapki's statement:

"In addition to the statement I gave on 24/06/2025, I would like to provide your prosecutor's office with some further information.

As I mentioned in my previous statement, I had indicated that I hold a 20% stake in the company named BVA, and that Hüseyin Köksal is a partner with an 80% share. As also stated in the referral report prepared by the Ministry of Interior's Provincial Inspectorate, which is included in the case file, the 3 tenders that BVA obtained from Kültür AŞ were awarded to BVA on a pre-determined basis on the instructions of Hüseyin Köksal, Ahmat Köksal, Kültür AŞ general manager Serdal Taşkın, and Murat Ongun. Ahmet Köksal closely monitored these tender processes because he is a lawyer. I do not recall whether my signatures appear on the documents related to these tenders, but I may have signed them at a later stage.

Hüseyin Köksal transferred 60% of the portion of the profit from these tenders that fell to his share to Ekrem İmamoğlu (to "SİSTEM") via Murat Ongun. I know this because Hüseyin Köksal told me personally. I also know from Hüseyin Köksal's own account that the money accumulated within SİSTEM was used for building Ekrem İmamoğlu's political future, for the purchase of Olay TV, and for the purchase of the building in Taksim Gümüşsuyu where the Tarih magazine is located.

Whenever money was to be withdrawn from BVA's account, Hüseyin Köksal would assign a person named Gönül, who handled Hüseyin's financial affairs. This person named Gönül is aware of all of Hüseyin Köksal's official and unofficial financial transactions. One day at the office, a document titled "profit share distribution" was visible open on Gönül's laptop. When I looked at this document, I saw it written as 20% Murat Kapki, 20% Hüseyin Köksal, 60% other. The document I saw was of a nature that confirmed the profit distribution I had heard about from Hüseyin Köksal, as mentioned above.

Approximately 2 years ago, Hüseyin Köksal, at the request of Murat Ongun, instructed Gönül to withdraw money in order to purchase a Skoda SuperB model vehicle as a gift for an employee working in İBB communications.

As best I recall, towards the end of 2021, Hüseyin Köksal told me that Murat Ongun wanted to give us digital advertising spaces, and that in return he was asking for 65 million TL in cash off the books. I said we should reject this offer because I thought we would not be able to make a profit from it. Later, from what I heard from Hüseyin Köksal, they gave it to the İlbaks in exchange for receiving 75 million TL in cash off the books.

When I told Hüseyin Köksal that we should participate as BVA in the billboard tender won by the İlbaks — which is also the subject of the referral report in the case file — he told me: "Let's not enter this tender; Murat Ongun is going to award it to the İlbaks, and in return he will collect a substantial amount of money off the books."

Hüseyin Köksal, Emrah Bağdatlı, and Murat Ongun were very close. Almost every day, they would first hold a private meeting and then party at Hüseyin Köksal's apartment at Zorlu Rafaels.

Despite having no official role at İBB, Emrah Bağdatlı was going around creating the perception — drawing on the influence he derived from Murat Ongun and Ekrem İmamoğlu — that the keys to the city of Istanbul were in his hands.

The radio stations named NSpor, Şahin Radyo, FG Radyo, Lounge, and Ratech, which are currently subject to precautionary measures, are in practice my radio stations, even though they are not formally registered in my name.

When Hüseyin Köksal was in the process of becoming a partner in BVA — the company I originally owned — he made it a condition that I should have no other advertising company besides this one and that I should not conduct advertising business under any other company. Hüseyin had conveyed to him that Murat Ongun required this to be so. I believe they imposed this condition on me in order to keep me under control, because they did not want me to grow stronger outside their will, and because they wanted me to be entirely dependent on them. For this reason, I previously transferred the many advertising companies that were in my name to my employees named Şeyhmus Sarıboğa, Berat Çağrı Kapki, and Elif Kapki. I have absolutely no partnership in practice with these companies.

The person with a backpack seen beside Ekrem İmamoğlu in the hotel footage that appeared in the media is definitely not me. That person is Mehmet Ali Çalışkan, who is currently also a suspect in the case file.

I am closely acquainted with Kağan Sürmegöz. We would occasionally go to the hammam together at the Sheraton hotel in Ataşehir, and we would have coffee and meals. Apart from these activities, I have absolutely had no irregular business or conduct with him.

Approximately 2 years ago, Hüseyin Köksal called me and asked me to find a broker I knew (for yacht rental). I referred him to an acquaintance of mine named Ferhat Kanbur. He rented a yacht from him for around 50 thousand euros, though I do not recall the exact amount. Together with this yacht, Hüseyin Köksal, Murat Ongun, Emrah Bağdatlı, and their spouses set off from Marmaris and went on holiday to the Greek islands. I was definitely not on this trip.

I am also submitting to your prosecutor's office the sales contract related to the house I purchased in Miami, USA, which I also mentioned in my previous statement (received, added to the file). A copy of this contract is also held at the Vakıfbank Finanskent Branch. I request that the contract be summoned from there as well.

In addition to the statement I previously gave, I have now recounted everything I know sincerely and openly. In the coming period, I will submit to your prosecutor's office the information and documents I will compile regarding the matters I have described. At this stage, I request my release."

News Source: 12punto