The controversy surrounding fund allegations involving former minister and AKP member Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya is growing with new claims regarding the testimony process and a refund. In the criminal complaint filed by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) earlier this week against Kaya and other relevant parties mentioned in the file, a series of accusations were leveled under capital markets legislation and the Turkish Penal Code.
The criminal complaint included charges of "insider trading," "market manipulation," "qualified fraud," "influence peddling," "misconduct in office," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," and "laundering assets derived from crime." The allegations have not yet been finalized by a judicial decision.
One of the topics discussed in the file is the money that was reportedly refunded. While it was initially brought to the agenda that a refund of 2.2 billion liras had been made, it was later claimed that the refund amount was 1 billion 860 million liras. The same allegations stated that the principal amount was 163 million liras and that the remaining portion was the subject of a debate over interest income.
Following reports that authorization for an investigation into Kaya had been granted, it was reported that Kaya and her spouse gave statements at the courthouse but left shortly after without being detained. This process has become the focus of criticism, being compared to the methods applied in investigations against opposition figures.
ALLEGATIONS WITHIN THE AKP ON THE AGENDA
Another topic fueling the debate is the tensions reportedly reflecting from within the AKP. Journalist Hadi Özışık used the following expressions regarding his conversation with Kaya: "The woman told me this. But who got her into it, who encouraged her, what her actual purpose was, we talked about all of this. But that conversation will go to the grave with me."
Nefes columnist Deniz Zeyrek also reported claims that Kaya had told those around her that if a testimony or trial process were to occur, she could talk about other names in the file. Zeyrek interpreted this situation as "a veiled threat."
It is stated that Kaya requested to be relieved of her duties in the AKP during the process, and was subsequently removed from internal party communication groups and membership. The file maintains its place on the political agenda both with its legal dimension and its potential repercussions within the ruling party.
News Source: 12punto
