Prosecution referral document for Veli Ağbaba’s nephew Ahmet Can Ağbaba obtained: 150 thousand liras were sent

Ahmet Can Ağbaba, the nephew of CHP Malatya MP Veli Ağbaba, who was detained as part of a 'corruption' investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, has been referred to the duty magistrate judge with a request for his 'arrest' on charges of 'influence peddling' following his statement to the prosecutor. Meanwhile, the prosecution's referral document has also emerged.

Referral document obtained

The prosecution's referral document notes that it was determined that the detained suspect Turgut Koç sent 150 thousand liras to Ahmet Can Ağbaba's bank account on April 24, 2024. The referral document further states that Gökhan Cumalı, who is also detained in the same investigation, served as a driver for both Veli Ağbaba and Turgut Koç, and that money transfers were made to Cumalı's bank account by Veli Ağbaba, Turgut Koç, and Ağbaba's parliamentary staff member Özlem Akyılmaz Mercan. The prosecution determined that Turgut Koç made a total of 260 thousand liras in transfers to Mercan on various dates, and numerous money transfers to Cumalı.

WhatsApp correspondence and photo of money in the file

The referral document states that in his statement taken on June 29, 2026, Turgut Koç alleged that Veli Ağbaba had requested money from him, and that numerous photos of Veli Ağbaba were found in his digital materials. It was reported that an examination of Gökhan Cumalı's mobile phone revealed WhatsApp correspondence with Veli Ağbaba regarding money. The investigation found that a message dated January 16, 2024, asking "Where is the money?" and photos and messages dated March 4, 2024, regarding 100 thousand dollars believed to be inside a cargo bag, were included in the file as evidence.

Allegation of "benefits in exchange for municipal tenders"

The referral document includes findings that, when the evidence in the file is evaluated together, Turgut Koç obtained irregular tenders and procurement contracts from municipalities in exchange for financial benefits through Veli Ağbaba, acted as an intermediary for others to obtain these contracts, and received tenders from municipalities by establishing a company with Gökhan Cumalı. It was also stated that it is assessed that a portion of the financial benefits Turgut Koç obtained irregularly was sent to Veli Ağbaba's chief of staff, relatives, and driver.

"No kinship ties"

The referral document points out that there is no kinship tie between Turgut Koç and Ahmet Can Ağbaba, and states that there is strong suspicion that Ahmet Can Ağbaba obtained 150 thousand TL in financial benefits by acting as an intermediary for influence peddling. The prosecution requested the arrest of Ahmet Can Ağbaba for the crime of "influence peddling," taking into account the nature of the crime, the current state of the evidence, and the upper limit of the penalty.

News Source: 12punto