Zuhal Böcek’s additional testimony revealed: 'We paid that much money'

In the testimony included in the investigation file, Zuhal Böcek stated that her husband, Gökhan Böcek, told her during one of his trips to Ankara that he would "deliver money to the headquarters." Explaining that they went to a hotel through a person they met on the plane, Böcek stated that she personally took her husband to the headquarters the next day. The most striking detail in the testimony was the backpack that Gökhan Böcek constantly carried with him. Stating that she remembers him entering the headquarters with this bag, Böcek expressed that she does not clearly remember the state of the bag upon his exit.

A phone call made on the way was also one of the critical points of Zuhal Böcek's testimony. Böcek said that her husband spoke on the phone with Veli Ağbaba while going to the headquarters.

Another striking section in the testimony text concerned the candidacy process. Zuhal Böcek stated that her husband frequently expressed that a significant amount of money was paid for his father's mayoral candidacy. Stating that complaints such as "We paid that much money, and it still hasn't been announced" were discussed at home, Böcek emphasized that the process caused serious stress for her husband. In her testimony, Böcek also mentioned that the phrase "1 million euros" was used, but she did not know the source of this money.

The detail about the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul was another notable heading in the testimony.

Describing how Gökhan Böcek entered a small currency exchange office with E.B., who is stated to be involved in media business, Zuhal Böcek said that she waited at the door. Stating that she was not a direct witness to the money traffic that took place inside, Böcek reported that upon exiting, her husband told her that "money was shown as a password to the currency exchanger." Emphasizing that this incident remained in her mind because it was "interesting," Böcek stated that she did not know the amount of money.

Stating in her testimony that she had no knowledge of who provided the money, Zuhal Böcek said that her husband's father, Muhittin Böcek, could easily obtain money from business people due to his position. Zuhal Böcek also expressed that she heard many people provided financial contributions during the election period.

The suspect's lawyer, on the other hand, argued that his client had no criminal intent. Stating that she had no role in the procurement, collection, or delivery of the money, the lawyer stated that Zuhal Böcek only accompanied her husband. The lawyer also claimed that his client did not know that such payments were illegal and thought that everyone made similar payments during the candidacy process.

News Source: 12punto