Interim ruling in the Beykoz Municipality case: Alaattin Köseler remains in custody

The case brought by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against 26 defendants, including the dismissed Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, with 3 currently in custody, on charges of "rigging bids" and "establishing, being a member of, and assisting an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," was heard today at the Anatolian 17th High Criminal Court.

INTERIM RULING ANNOUNCED

Announcing its interim ruling, the court panel ordered that Alaattin Köseler remain in custody and adjourned the hearing until June 5.

The hearing was attended by the dismissed and detained Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, as well as Veli Gümüş and Havva Dindar, along with the defendants who are being tried without arrest and the lawyers for the parties.

"THIS CASE IS POLITICAL"

In his defense statement at the court, Alaattin Köseler said the following:

"I have been in Silivri for 425 days. In my single-person cell. After you granted the release decision and I met with my people in Paşabahçe, the political conjecture changed. That is why the detention decision was made through an objection filed in the dark corridors of this courthouse. This case is political.

What changed in the 24 hours between the day you granted the release and the next? I am asking the 18th High Criminal Court. Is there a single piece of evidence against me? If I were the mayor of the ruling party today, that 18th court could not write these reasons for detention. If they want it so much, the arena is there. Let them set up the ballot box and let us compete. A brave person steps into the field and fights their battle there.

I have no account that I cannot give. I expect a fair decision from your honorable panel that does not wound consciences. Who benefits from me lying here for 425 days without evidence or proof? I wish for the end of my detention process, which does not fit into any conscience.

You are managing a district of 250 thousand people. The words you speak here have no value, and that is a very bad feeling. I have always strived to use the budget for the people. I would not be involved in anything against the public interest. For those who see it, a lot is happening in Beykoz. I will always protect their rights. The Ministry of Interior did not reinstate the mayors who were released. Detention is a measure. There are other measures besides this. I want to sleep on the carpet in my own home.

"AM I TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE PAST?"

Beykoz is a problematic place regarding zoning. Erdal Usturbeyli said it in your presence. He says the same firms have always submitted bids. The prosecutor is forcing these things under pressure. You decided for the prosecutor's office to take action after those statements that day. I understood when I went and read it later. I have no grudge or anything.

I was trying to keep the promises I made. When I saw a man sitting around not doing any work, I would dismiss him. If I haven't succeeded at election time, the people dismiss me too. There is also Murat Gedik from the municipal company regarding Abbas Gürdal. A management of 17-18 people. They were also receiving other salaries. I made a change of duty and cut them off. After that, they started talking.

They are accusing me of forgery in documents. Where is that document? I am constantly examining the files. I don't see it. As a senior administrator, we are not the spending authority. It used to exist. Our President saved us from this. Am I to bear the burden of the past? I don't have a single WhatsApp message with the private secretary. We will talk on the phone, of course; are we going to communicate with smoke signals? There is no tape recording, no money movement. There is no video recording. There is nothing at all.

"WHEN I FIRST WON THE ELECTION, THE PRESIDENT HAD A LETTER FOR ME"

If they opened the door in Silivri, I wouldn't run away, not until a decision is made. These people are here because of me. They couldn't stomach me breathing by the seaside. For 10 thousand 200 hours, there hasn't been a slander we haven't faced. I have never seen such treachery. I have served as a club president and a mayor. If they want it so much, the arena is there. Let them set up the ballot box. It is also a shame for the people of Beykoz and for those who have run as candidates from different political parties. A brave man steps into the field. He fights. I started 1st grade in a shack. When I first won the election, the President had a letter for me. He was in Pınarhisar then, too. As the file started, the movements in the prosecutor's office fell onto the country's agenda. No e-signature, no wet signature... Additions were made as of the approval date of the private secretary.

Outside of this issue, all the concerts and printed works we provided to the people of Beykoz were made the subject of an investigation. The Ministry of Interior gave permission. The Council of State did not give permission unanimously because there was no concrete, clear data. You are aware that an indictment was prepared in a hurry. Today you listened to a total of 47 people. You listened to 10 people just in the last court session.

Those who wrote the indictment can write me. After you released me, I was cleared in Paşabahçe square. I thanked them for this in the square. Duran Hoca says, 'Alaattin Köseler did not give me any instructions.' Yıldız Güneş acts as if she sat alone. She does everything. There are 74 people doing market research. There are 34 people as the realization officer. Yıldız has 38 signatures. When I listened to Yıldız Güneş from 8:00 to 11:30 when she came with Nuray Yalçıngil, why doesn't she tell the Ministry of Interior Inspector what she is telling now? Why does the incoming inspector look at the time after the election? You are asking for permission for 64 of the 78 actions. You are also writing the day the private secretary was appointed within the organizational structure. I wasn't an organization founder or anything at the beginning. I looked and saw that we had become an organization.

"HE CANNOT WRITE THESE REASONS"

I want to ask the 18th High Criminal Court. What changed? Is there any evidence against me? Why did you arrest me? If I were the mayor of the ruling party, that 18th court could not write these reasons for this arrest. Fidan Gül says, she says in the Beykoz Peace Criminal Court that she asked what would happen if it were like this and that. In other words, she is directing Fidan Gül. There might be hostility between us. I asked for her to be taken to another municipality because of her relationship with Murat Miniç. I don't have a problem with them. I am looking at it from the perspective of it not being ethical.

There was no return from the Ministry of Interior. Someone was in a hurry. I know what has been happening in Beykoz for 425 days. A lot is happening to the detriment of the people of Beykoz. I am very curious. I hope the expert witness report comes out as soon as possible. What is public damage? We last met in this hall. 69 days have passed. I have been in Silivri for 425 days. I have been in a single-person cell for 10 thousand 200 hours. As I said that day at the hearing where you decided on all the releases, I appreciated the morality of the decision you made.

A day later, the people welcomed me in Paşabahçe. After that meeting, the conjecture changed. 24 hours later, on Saturday, a lawyer said here. In the dark corridors of the Kartal courthouse... this case has now turned completely political. I am a person who served as mayor between 1999-2004 and was re-elected 20 years later. As a result of a deputy elected with the votes of 18 council members of a political party changing parties, I and 5 others are still in prison due to instructions given in the dark corridors of the Kartal courthouse. There are 78 actions in this case. 64 of them are direct procurement. The Beykoz Prosecutor is asking the Ministry of Interior for permission to investigate within the scope of Law No. 4483, 59 days later."

News Source: 12punto