Statement from Özkan, campaign manager for İmamoğlu, who is subject to a financial injunction

Journalist Barış Terkoğlu, in his column published today, shared details of his conversation with Necati Özkan, who manages the election campaigns of Ekrem İmamoğlu, against whom a financial injunction was recently applied.

Özkan stated that because there is a confidentiality order on the file, he does not know what the criminal accusation is. Özkan said, "However, it is clear that an attempt is being made to construct a structure with Ekrem Bey at the center. They are trying to place me there as well. Once again, there is an effort here to push Ekrem Bey out of the game."

Journalist Barış Terkoğlu, in his article titled "İmamoğlu's longest 'March'", reported the following:

"I called Necati Özkan, one of the most well-known figures among those in question. I asked about the injunction. Özkan confirmed:

I was at lunch on Friday when I received an SMS message from the Beşiktaş Land Registry Office. The message said, 'A seizure order annotation is being processed on the real estate registered in your name.' I thought the message was some kind of scam. Still, I had a bad feeling and sent it to my lawyer. My lawyer sent two of his lawyer colleagues to the Land Registry Office and the courthouse. In the end, they confirmed that it was an action taken by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Afterwards, upon a friend's warning, I tried to send 500-1000 liras from my bank account to my wife for a check, but I couldn't. My personal account had been frozen. I called the bank; the branch didn't even know about it. Later, a similar message came from the Ankara Çankaya Land Registry Office.'

Özkan felt he was being treated unfairly:

'I am a professional communicator. I have been working for 42 years, and I have a reputable company known in the market. I have conducted communication campaigns for national and international brands. For many years, I have participated in tenders and taken on tasks in projects of various ministries managed by the current government, as well as institutions like the Central Bank, Halk Bank, or public administrations. For example, I participated in tenders for the Ministry of Tourism's General Directorate of Promotion and managed budgets of 5, 10, 15 million dollars per year. In short; for years, my company was one of the largest in its field in Turkey. I have also managed many projects outside of Turkey. Communication is my professional job, my passion. To date, I have given lectures and taught in more than 40 countries. At the IMM, I have no position, no responsibility, and no signing authority. Moreover, for years, I have stayed away from tenders of the IMM or its subsidiaries. Even though there are jobs I could rightfully win and do if I entered, I choose not to. Because the IMM is not a profit area for me. I support Ekrem Bey because I believe he is the right leadership alternative for Turkey. I met and worked with Ekrem Bey for the first time in the autumn of 2013. I managed the campaign that won him Beylikdüzü in 2014. I saw the light in him back then. Since that day, I have been personally serving as Ekrem İmamoğlu's political communication consultant.

What my lawyer told me is; this is an investigation file and there is a confidentiality order on the file. Therefore, I do not know what the subject is, what the criminal accusation is, or which article of which law they found my behavior to be in violation of. However, it is clear that an attempt is being made to construct a structure with Ekrem Bey at the center. They are trying to place me there as well. Once again, there is an effort here to push Ekrem Bey out of the game. I know myself. I have no account that I cannot answer for. There is no legal basis for what is being done; it is completely illegitimate.'

Özkan explained that the property under injunction is his office, which he purchased from TOBB 8 years before meeting İmamoğlu, and that in Ankara, an injunction was placed on land inherited from his father, adding that he had foreseen what was coming:

'For the last two months, when trolls and hitmen disguised as journalists started attacks against me, my company, and even my wife, I knew the matter would evolve into something like this. Last month, I went abroad twice for various projects. I returned knowing these things would happen. Because I have no account that I cannot answer for. I still want to trust the law in this country. Even if action has been taken upon the complaints of various trolls, I believe that the truth will eventually come out. We know from many examples in recent years that those who suffer, suffer. They might detain me tomorrow or the next day. I am not a politician, I am not a member of a political party. I am a professional communicator. I do technical work. Trying to manufacture a criminal organization out of people who work, produce, and pay their taxes in this country cannot be justice.'

Expectation of two operations

As the picture reveals; the İmamoğlu side expects operations from two separate fronts in the coming days. The final sentences of the City Consensus (Kent Uzlaşısı) indictment, written 4 days ago, point to the subject of the first: 'Investigations will continue to be deepened to expose all other individuals whose participation will be determined in order to realize the City Consensus activities, which aim to increase the effectiveness of the terrorist organization in metropolitan cities.'

The second is a criminal organization setup. The government will try to describe an organization with İmamoğlu at the center through supported judiciary, various companies, and tenders. By approaching İmamoğlu in circles, they will strike a blow to his Presidential candidacy."

News Source: 12punto