Statement of Gözdem Ongun, detained in the IMM investigation: 'I have reached a position where I have to ask for loans due to the investigations'

Zeynep Gözdem Ongun, wife of Medya AŞ Board Chairman Murat Ongun, who was detained in the second wave of operations within the scope of the investigation into the IMM, has been referred to court with a request for her arrest.

In her statement, noting that her monthly income is 80 thousand liras, Ongun responded to a question regarding the source of the 83 thousand 700 TL, 227 dollars, 31 thousand 50 Euros, and 1 thousand 640 pounds found during the search of her home by saying, "13 thousand 800 TL is my son's holiday pocket money. The others are borrowed money that I received from people around me because my husband is in custody, and which I keep to use in case of need. In fact, as a result of these investigations, I have reached a position where I have to ask for loans from my spouse, friends, and acquaintances. My son has a school payment coming up soon. It is normal for this amount of money to be in the house for this reason." Upon a question asked during the interrogation, Gözdem Ongun stated that "her husband gave her the 3 million 717 thousand liras, which is the 1-year rent for the house they live in, in cash, and that she sent this money to the landlord." 

"I HAVE NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY WITH THE IMM"

In her statement, Gözdem Ongun explained that she carries out her commercial activities through a jewelry company, that she has no commercial activity with the IMM or Ekrem İmamoğlu, and that she has never participated in any IMM tender. Ongun answered the questions asked to her in her statement.

"I PRODUCE JEWELRY AND CERAMICS"

Stating that she does not want to benefit from the effective remorse provisions because she has not committed any crime, Ongun expressed that she has received training in jewelry making, ceramics, and second-hand bookselling, saying, "I won the 3-year certificate program of İSMEK and received a certificate. In 2022, I established the company titled Byzag Sanat Tasarım ve Ticaret LTD. With this company, I trade in jewelry design and ceramic production. I conduct my trade both within well-known brands and on my own online shopping site. My training in various art fields is still ongoing."

"THE MONEY FOUND AT HOME IS BORROWED MONEY"

Upon being asked about the source of the 83 thousand 700 TL, 227 dollars, 31 thousand 50 Euros, and 1 thousand 640 pounds found during the search of her home, Ongun replied, "13 thousand 800 TL is my son's holiday pocket money. The others are borrowed money that I received from people around me because my husband is in custody, and which I keep to use in case of need. My son has a school payment coming up soon. It is normal for this amount of money to be in the house for this reason."

"MY HUSBAND GAVE OUR RENT IN CASH"

Responding to the allegations of irregularities in the IMM's outdoor advertising tenders, Ongun noted that her husband, Murat Ongun, gave her the 3 million 717 thousand 400 liras she paid for the villa they rented annually in cash. Gözdem Ongun said, "I have never worked as an executive or in any other capacity before the IMM. I did not receive any tenders through my company. I have no information about the tenders. We rented the duplex apartment where I currently reside for a total of 3 million 717 thousand 400 TL for one year. My husband gave me this rent amount in cash. I deposited this money into my account and sent it to the landlord from there."

When asked whether she had any commercial relationship with the 33 companies and their owners subject to the investigation, Gözdem Ongun replied, "I carry out commercial activities through my jewelry company. Individuals or companies may have purchased products from my company. The companies asked about might be companies owned by my personal customers, but I do not remember clearly at the moment. However, the company titled Urbanmedia Reklam ve İletişim Hizmetleri AŞ sounds familiar. I remember making sales to this company. There are documents regarding this."

"PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT"

Regarding the 768 thousand liras sent to her bank account by the company titled Peripol Creative İletişim Tic. Ltd. Şti. with the transaction description "boş ve cari hesaba mü" (payment to empty and current account), Ongun stated, "The company is the company of Özge Bağdatlı, who is the sister of my husband Murat Ongun's friend Emrah Bağdatlı. She had bought New Year's promotional products from me to give to her customers. These are the payments related to this. Furthermore, all commercial invoices and documents regarding these money transfers are available." Answering the question regarding the 288 thousand liras sent to her account from Urbanmedia Reklam ve İletişim Hizmetleri, which was seized within the scope of the investigation, Ongun said, "Orders come to my company for gift items from both individuals and companies. Our relationship with Urbanmedia Reklam ve İletişim Hizmetleri is a commercial relationship. It is a payment related to the product payment of a company that shops from my company. Furthermore, all commercial invoices and documents regarding these transfers are available."

"WE WERE SUBJECTED TO ACCUSATIONS WE DID NOT DESERVE"

Zeynep Ayten Gözdem Ongun said that other money transfers also stemmed from the commercial activities of her company in a similar way.

Ongun concluded her defense with these words: "I am someone who has been working and earning regular money for years. The fact that the accounts of my company, which I established and developed with my own efforts, were examined in such minute detail has personally disturbed me.

I think that I am being processed within the scope of this investigation because of my husband, Murat Ongun. In fact, as a result of these investigations, I have reached a position where I have to ask for loans from my spouse, friends, and acquaintances.

In this process, being subjected to accusations we do not deserve, along with my children being separated from both their mother and father, deeply shakes me. If the records of my company are examined, it will be understood that I have made sales to companies like Beymen and Trendyol, as well as on my own website, and that I have done special work that is not done in Turkey and is sought after, and that I have earned income from this.

When my social media accounts are examined, it will be seen how I design, produce, and package my products. Furthermore, being subjected to accusations we do not deserve, along with my children being separated from both their mother and father in this process, deeply shakes me. I do not accept the accusations made against me."

News Source: 12punto