Cemal Bozoğlu, a member of the Bavarian State Parliament for the Green Party in Germany, has taken a new step regarding the 100 million euro money transfer document mentioned in the Sarıgüller investigation, which led to the arrest of journalist Murat Ağırel. Bozoğlu submitted the receipt, which is alleged to belong to the Stadtsparkasse bank in Munich, to the bank and requested an investigation into the authenticity of the document.
Bozoğlu announced that the bank responded to him shortly after and informed him that the materials sent were under review. Stating that he would file a criminal complaint in Germany depending on the outcome of the investigation, Bozoğlu expressed that the process is also significant in terms of allegations of forgery, money laundering, and blackmail.
BANK HAS BEGUN REVIEWING THE DOCUMENT
Bozoğlu stated that the documents sent to Ağırel included a receipt that appeared to originate from Stadtsparkasse Munich, as well as some video recordings. Noting that he contacted the bank due to the possibility that the documents might have been manipulated, Bozoğlu said, "Because of the possibility that these documents were manipulated, I delivered these materials to the Munich Stadtsparkasse bank. The bank responded to me in a short time and informed me that they had taken the materials I sent under review."
According to Bozoğlu, if it is determined that the documents were fabricated or altered, the bank is expected to apply to the prosecutor's office due to the unauthorized use of its name and logo. He added that if the document turns out to be genuine, a separate investigation will be conducted into the source of the 100 million euro transfer.
The Sarıgüller investigation was launched following a complaint by Sinan Çampınar, who lives in Germany, and two German citizens. The complainants alleged that they had sent certain documents regarding Emir Sarıgül to Ağırel, but that the journalist did not report on them and they suspected he might have forwarded the documents to Sarıgül.
Murat Ağırel, in his statements to the police and the prosecutor's office, stated that he did not report on the SWIFT document, which was alleged to show a 100 million euro transfer to Emir Sarıgül, because he doubted its accuracy. Ağırel stated that he tried to verify the document, consulted with Sarıgül's lawyer in accordance with press ethics, and submitted the WhatsApp correspondence regarding this process to the prosecutor's office.
Bozoğlu emphasized that journalists are obligated to investigate the accuracy of the information and documents they receive. Stating that not publishing suspicious documents is a professional choice, Bozoğlu noted that the authorities responsible for addressing allegations that individuals living in Germany are being threatened are security units, and that the solution is not the arrest of a journalist, but the utilization of legal channels.
News Source: 12punto
