Tanju Özcan’s statement completed: I did not demand money or obtain benefits through force or pressure

As part of an investigation conducted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an operation was launched regarding the crime of extortion, defined as a public official abusing the influence provided by their position to force themselves or others to obtain unfair benefits.

Teams from the Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command carried out a simultaneous operation early in the morning. In the operation conducted under the prosecutor's instructions, 13 people, including Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, were detained.

The individuals detained include Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, Financial Affairs Manager Naim Ayhan, Bolsev Foundation Board Chairman Ali Sarıyıldız, Municipal Council Member Hüseyin Ekrem Serin, Municipal Council Member Buse Özkan, Municipal Council Member Cahit Görüş, Zoning Manager Sinan Pekcan, Zoning employee Yasin Bargaç, Fire Department Manager (former Human Resources Manager) Mehmet Ağan, former Municipal Police Chief Hakan Yılmaz, former Clerk of the Council Tahsin Arslan, and former Municipal Council Member and former Bolu Bel A.Ş. Board Chairman Ergün Temel.

"I did not demand money or obtain benefits through force or pressure"

Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, who was detained by the Provincial Gendarmerie Command teams early in the morning, has completed his statement at the gendarmerie. Responding to the allegations against him, Mayor Özcan said, "In 2024, I personally invited the representatives of markets operating in Bolu, which generally have corporate branches, to the Bolu Municipality main service building to meet with them.

Although I do not recall the exact number, 8-10 company representatives attended the meeting in the conference room. I told these representatives that we were preparing to establish a Bolu-based foundation, and that the ultimate goal of this foundation would be activities such as building a nursing home and helping students.

I requested that they support the foundation we were planning to establish. I absolutely did not have any situation where I demanded money or obtained benefits from these individuals directly, through force, or through pressure. Our goal was to support the aid foundation we were in the process of establishing. Regarding this foundation, our administration has held consultations from time to time with industrial tradespeople, major merchants, business people, and philanthropists living in Bolu. We certainly did not have any such demand from anyone through force or pressure," he said.

"The advertising fees for these markets are deposited into a company that is a subsidiary of the Bolsev Foundation"

Stating that inspections were carried out to prevent exorbitant prices, Özcan said, "After the 2024 elections, I instructed the authorized colleagues I am responsible for to carry out inspections more sensitively in order to implement the instructions we received regarding preventing hoarding and exorbitant prices in our institution.

However, I did not give any special instructions to anyone personally regarding whether or not to inspect anyone's workplace or shop. I do not accept the accusation.

As far as I know, I remember that the BİM market chain deposited fees into the advertising department of our municipal company, Bolubel A.Ş., 1-2 times. After Bolsev A.Ş. was established on July 19, 2024, the advertising fees, that is, BİM's advertising fees, were deposited there, and the receipts were given to the relevant parties by the relevant foundation unit company.

I am the chairman of the board of the Bolsev Foundation. The advertising fees for these markets are deposited into a company that is a subsidiary of the Bolsev Foundation. They are not deposited directly into the foundation. The process of receiving fees occurred in the manner I described. There is absolutely no irregular situation. This foundation and the company that is a subsidiary of the foundation are audited by people who make up a 32-member honorary board. This board consists of members of political parties, that is, from different political parties," he stated.

News Source: İHA