A new summary of proceedings (fezleke) is expected to be prepared against YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel due to money transfer allegations included in the prosecutor's testimony of Mustafa Sarıgül's son, Emir Sarıgül.
While it is stated that the number of immunity files previously sent to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) regarding Özel has reached at least 62, the existing files are pending in the Parliament's Joint Committee.
It was noted that Emir Sarıgül, who is currently under arrest, described in his prosecutor's testimony the dispute he had with his father, Mustafa Sarıgül, over an inheritance left by his mother; he also made certain allegations regarding money being given to the YENİ Party by his father.
In his testimony, it was alleged that Sarıgül said he heard from his father that 250 thousand dollars were left in a vehicle belonging to Özgür Özel at the exit of a restaurant in Ümitköy, Ankara, for the interior decoration of the party headquarters during the establishment process of the YENİ Party. Sarıgül also claimed he was told that 250 thousand dollars or euros were handed over in cash for the sound system and interior design of the party bus.
According to another allegation reflected in the testimony, Emir Sarıgül claimed that 100 thousand dollars were placed in a gift package containing scarves within the last month, that Mustafa Sarıgül took this package to Ankara, and that he was told the money was handed over to Özel.
HOW WILL THE PROCESS WORK?
According to the report by Alican Uludağ from DW Turkish, it is stated that because both individuals have parliamentary immunity, the prosecutor's office cannot conduct a direct investigation of evidence, and in this context, examinations such as HTS records cannot be carried out. The file is expected to be sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which is authorized regarding investigations involving members of parliament.
It is anticipated that the summaries of proceedings to be prepared by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office will be forwarded to the Speaker of the TBMM with a request for the lifting of immunities. If the immunities are lifted, an investigation into the alleged money transfers can be conducted.
While Özel has not made a direct statement regarding the allegations, YENİ Party Spokesperson Zeynel Emre denied the claims in a previous statement. Emre stated, "The allegations contained in a testimony leaked to the Sabah newspaper today regarding our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, are completely false and are a clear slander."
Describing the allegations regarding the party bus as "irrational," Emre said the bus was purchased with donations and that all invoices are held by the party; he argued that the process is an "assassination of reputation."
Summaries of proceedings had previously been prepared against Özel following the testimonies of the currently imprisoned Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek and Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım. In those files, money allegations regarding the candidacy process in local elections and the 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP had come to the fore.
News Source: 12punto
