Former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek's son, Ahmet Gökçek, and daughter-in-law, Hülya Gökçek, testified as suspects at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding money transfers related to the establishment of a company and the purchase of real estate in Germany.
Journalist İsmail Saymaz covered the details of the testimonies given by the Gökçek couple to the prosecutor's office and information regarding the family's companies and real estate in Germany in his column. While explanations regarding the source of the multi-million Euro money transfer were included in the file as part of the investigation, the assessment of their economic situation in the prosecutor's referral letter also drew attention.
In his article in Sözcü titled "The Gökçeks' capital came from weddings and births," Saymaz included Hülya Gökçek's statements regarding the financing of the real estate in Germany. At the center of the investigation are the HAMAG GmbH company established in Germany, the approximately 4.5 million Euro money transfer, and the real estate purchased in Düsseldorf.
THE SOURCE OF THE 4.5 MILLION EUROS SENT TO HAMAG GMBH WAS QUESTIONED
According to the information provided by Saymaz, Hülya Gökçek testified at the prosecutor's office regarding the money transfer of approximately 4.5 million Euros made to the HAMAG GmbH company she established in Germany in 2022.
When asked about the source of the transferred money, Gökçek stated that the amount in question was the purchase price of the building bought in Düsseldorf and said the following:
"I sent the approximately 4.5 million Euros as the sale price of the building we bought in Düsseldorf. I sent it in installments over 1.5 years from the bank account registered in my name."
When asked where the money was obtained from, Gökçek gave the following answer:
"It is from the gold left over from my wedding, my family, and the support we received from my husband's family."
According to Saymaz's article, Hülya Gökçek stated that more than 10 properties registered in her name, her husband's name, and their companies were also sold for the purpose of purchasing the building in Düsseldorf.
EXPLANATION FOR THE GOLD GIVEN AT WEDDINGS AND BIRTHS
Hülya Gökçek said that the gold she stated she used in the money transfer was given to her at her wedding and at the births of her two children.
Gökçek explained how the gold was converted into cash as follows:
"The wedding jewelry belongs to me personally. I gradually cashed them in and converted them into cash. The gold was physically with me. I cashed in a portion of it and sent it to HAMAG as cash."
Saymaz reported that Gökçek did not present documents regarding the income obtained from the cashing of the gold and the sale of the properties during her testimony.
Stating that Gökçek said, "I will present them one by one," Saymaz wrote that the prosecutor's office is also waiting for the bank receipts to be submitted.
ECONOMIC STATUS ASSESSMENT IN THE PROSECUTOR'S REFERRAL LETTER
It was stated that after the testimonies of Ahmet Gökçek and Hülya Gökçek, they were referred to the criminal judgeship of peace with a request for a travel ban.
Saymaz reported that the referral letter contained an assessment regarding the Gökçek family's bank accounts, real estate, and company activities.
The following statement was included in the referral letter:
"When the bank account movements, real estate assets, and company activities are evaluated together, there is an inconsistency between the Gökçeks' economic status and their investment and money movements..."
Saymaz wrote that in addition to the family's companies and real estate in Germany, their financial and commercial connections abroad and their residence permits were also evaluated within the scope of the travel ban measure.
MELİH GÖKÇEK: "I SOLD MY VILLA AND GAVE THE MONEY TO MY SON"
Reporting that Melih Gökçek also testified at the prosecutor's office as part of the investigation, Saymaz also wrote about the former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor's explanations regarding the sale of his villa in Ankara's Çayyolu district.
Gökçek stated that he sold his detached villa in the Funda Sitesi registered in his name in 2018 and gave the 1 million 265 thousand dollars obtained to his son, Ahmet Gökçek.
Melih Gökçek used the following words in his testimony:
"In 2018, I had a detached villa in the Funda Sitesi registered in my name in Ankara. To support him, I sold the house and gave the money to my son Ahmet. I sold the house for 1,265,000 dollars. I have no knowledge regarding the capital of my son's commercial activity."
Gökçek continued with the following statement:
"I sold the house for him to use in his commercial activity and gave the money to my son."
Saymaz reported that it is also being investigated whether this money was used in the financing of the real estate purchased in Düsseldorf.
THE REAL ESTATE AGENT IN GERMANY IS ALSO UNDER INVESTIGATION
According to Saymaz's article, the Gökçek family's real estate agent in Germany, H.U., was also included in the investigation file as a suspect.
When asked about his relationship with H.U., Melih Gökçek gave the following statements:
"I have no sincerity or closeness with him. I saw him once in Ankara, next to my son Ahmet, 1.5 years ago. He had said that he was involved in real estate buying and selling in Germany. I do not know if he has any commercial or legal relationship with my son."
GÖKÇEK WAS ALSO ASKED ABOUT HIS 23-YEAR MAYORAL TERM
Saymaz reported that a question was also directed to Melih Gökçek in his prosecutor's testimony regarding the 23-year period during which he served as the Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.
Gökçek was asked about allegations regarding whether public resources were transferred for the benefit of family members during his mayoral term.
The question asked is as follows:
"What do you have to say regarding the allegations that any public resource transfer was made for the benefit of your family members during your mayoral term?"
Melih Gökçek gave the following answer to this question:
"During my term as Mayor, I did not provide any support that would be for the benefit of my family members."
News Source: 12punto
