Where is Erbaş's Audi A8? The striking '150-meter' detail

Following austerity measures and debates over 'waste', the Audi A8 vehicle allocated to the President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş had been 'returned' following public backlash. 

KEPT IN THE GARAGE

According to a report by Mustafa Bildircin from BirGün; a new detail regarding the Audi A8 has emerged. 

The Audi A8 was kept in the Diyanet's garage for a while on the grounds that it “should not attract attention.” 

The vehicle was later taken out of the garage and began to be used. It was reported that the vehicle, which Erbaş stated he used when traveling out of the city, was also used between the presidency and his home.

CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNICATIONS

Following BirGün's reports on the Audi A8, the vehicle had to be returned. It is alleged that after the debate the reports created in the public eye, Diyanet officials consulted with the Presidential Directorate of Communications and asked, “Should we return the vehicle?” It is argued that the Directorate suggested making a statement regarding the return to ensure the process was handled correctly.

VISIT TO THE PALACE

It is stated that the official statement regarding the return of the vehicle was drafted by the President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş and Vice Presidents Kadir Dinç and Hasan Güçlü. According to the information obtained, after the text was prepared, Ali Erbaş went to the Presidential Palace. Following the visit, the text was announced to the public, and it was noted that the vehicle had been returned.

During the time Erbaş used it, the vehicle was located in the underground parking garage beneath the Diyanet building; following the return announcement, it was moved to a private section of the three-story parking garage located under the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque, 150 meters from the presidency.

Diyanet officials argued that there was no question of a return because the vehicle appeared to belong to TEYAŞ, a subsidiary of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, and that the vehicle was being kept in a storage facility. Among the allegations is that it was decided to “keep it in secret” due to the belief that selling the vehicle would result in a loss.

'IT NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED WITH DOCUMENTATION'

Presidential sources, stating that they saw the Audi A8 vehicle in the garage, used the following expressions: “It needs to be explained with documentation that the vehicle was actually returned. As they remain silent, the scale of the scandal deepens further. Foundations and companies established with the nation's trusts are being sacrificed for someone's love of luxury. There is no explanation for this.”

News Source: 12punto