Özgür Özel's challenge: 'Restore the deleted messages and let your lies be exposed'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in his statements to halktv.com.tr, evaluated the allegations made by detained Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım in his statement under the effective remorse law.

Stating that the allegations put forward by Yalım do not reflect the truth, Özel made notable remarks regarding the WhatsApp screenshots circulating on social media.

"WHATSAPP CORRESPONDENCE HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH"

Özgür Özel stated that the WhatsApp correspondence allegedly between him and Özkan Yalım was served in an incomplete and manipulated manner.

Stating that he completely deleted his WhatsApp records when he handed over his old phone to his private secretary, Özel used the following expressions:

"I don't have those correspondences. When I gave my old phone to my private secretary, I completely removed my WhatsApp. Here is what I think: They removed some things that I wrote and that Özkan said in between. If there was something related to money, why would they delete it; if I had said something like that? They deleted the correspondence or the photo in between to make it look like it was against us."

"LET THE DELETED MESSAGES BE RESTORED"

Özel also announced that his lawyers would apply to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Stating that they would request an examination of Özkan Yalım's phone, Özel said they would demand that the deleted messages be restored.

In his statement, Özel used the following expressions:

"If this is really presented as evidence, we will request that Özkan Yalım's phone be unlocked and examined. We will demand that the deleted messages be restored. It is clear that there is a trick there. There is something in our favor in the correspondence that was deleted, that was made to look like it was deleted. When it is deleted, it creates such an ambiguous meaning. Once that is done, it will be understood that there was no money involved anyway."

RESPONSE TO THE "I THREW IT IN THE GARDEN OF THE HOUSE" CLAIM

Özel also responded to the allegations reflected in the public eye that "money was left in the garden of the house."

Arguing that the alleged correspondence should be brought to light, Özel made the following statement:

"He was saying, 'I threw it in the garden of the house.' Where is the correspondence, let's see it. Supposedly I told him, 'Throw it in the garden of the house,' and he put the money at the foot of the wall. My house is in a huge garden with 18 houses inside. It is one of the houses furthest from the garden wall. There is a high wall on the road, supposedly I said, 'Put the money on it.' He was writing that there is such a correspondence, let that come to light too."

"NO OFFICIAL COMPLAINT RECEIVED REGARDING YALIM"

Özgür Özel also answered the question of whether an official complaint regarding Özkan Yalım had reached the CHP Headquarters before.

Stating that no official or concrete application had been made to the party, Özel used the following expressions:

"There was nothing that reached us officially and concretely. When someone does reach out, we immediately make an assignment, and they go. I even talk to them myself. For example, I talked to Keçiören, to Afyon. No information regarding private life came from Uşak. No such complaint as 'This is happening, money is being taken for this' came officially or in writing."

"NOTHING HE SAID IS TRUE"

Touching upon the allegations of "promises of jobs in exchange for votes" regarding the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, Özel said that the information provided by Özkan Yalım did not reflect the truth.

Özel made the following statement:

"One of the children he mentioned in Gaziantep is 5 years old, one is 8. A woman has no children. Nothing he said is true. As CHP, we say in court regarding the congress: 'The names and identities of the delegates are clear, their children are clear, do a scan in the form of pre-congress and post-congress.' We want it. Because there is no such thing. 12 witnesses were heard who alleged these issues, not one could provide proof."

"EXPULSION PROCESS WAS INITIATED AT THE FIRST MYK"

Özel also responded to the question of whether Özkan Yalım's expulsion from the CHP was delayed.

Stating that the expulsion process was initiated at the first Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, Özel stated that the disciplinary process was carried out in accordance with the regulations.

"Absolutely not, there is no such thing. There needs to be an MYK meeting for expulsion. We referred Yalım to discipline with a request for permanent expulsion at the MYK meeting. The Disciplinary Board asks for his defense. You send it to the prison for defense according to the notification law. On the day his defense period expired, they gathered extraordinarily and expelled him. In 22 days..."

"HE WAS AHEAD IN THE POLLS DURING THE CANDIDACY PROCESS"

Speaking about the process of making Özkan Yalım a mayoral candidate, Özel said that Yalım came out ahead in the polls conducted.

Özel used the following expressions:

"First, we put those who applied to the poll, the man is a three-term deputy, and he is rich, he came out first. We said we would nominate him. Our Uşak Deputy Ali Karaoba came and said: 'Let's not make Özkan, I found a famous name, he will definitely win.' This person was a retired bureaucrat known in the city, on the right-wing line. We asked, Özkan came out high again."

BURCU KÖKSAL STATEMENT ALSO BECAME AN AGENDA

Özgür Özel also made notable statements regarding Burcu Köksal, who recently joined the AK Party.

Stating that he sent a message to Köksal months ago, Özel used the following expressions:

"Don't do it Burcu, you are going to the side of the men you called Trikupis' soldiers" and "If the corruption issue is about your husband, get a divorce, the party will stand by you."

News Source: 12punto