Zeydan Karalar's statement has been revealed! 'He is slandering to escape arrest'
Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar, in his statement to the police, emphasized that all tenders were made transparently and auditably during his term, and that no irregularities were found as a result of the audits of the Court of Accounts and Civil Inspectors. Karalar said, "I have never had any commercial or debt relationship with any of the people whose documents were read to me. This investigation is completely a political investigation. All of the allegations of those making the claim are untrue."
Of Karalar’s 56-page statement at the police station, 54 pages were made up of statements from other suspects and witnesses, base records, and bank account movements.
Karalar was given the statements of witnesses, "Baki Nugay told me that he met with Mayor Zeydan Karalar, requested money so that we could receive the progress payment, and that this money would be delivered to Özcan Zenger," and was asked about the tender processes during his term as Seyhan Mayor between 2014 and 2019. Karalar stated that he wanted to answer all the questions after they were submitted.
Karalar said that he knew Baki Nugay, that Seyhan Municipality was under AKP control before 2014, and that when he became mayor in 2014, the municipality's garbage collection and transportation operations were continued by the same company, Barka, and that the person who continued the work was the contractor Baki Nugay.
Karalar said that Nugay wanted to meet him after he was elected president, and continued:
"I accepted his request and met with him. Neither during this meeting nor afterwards did I have any conversations with any person or institution regarding obtaining a benefit. Such a conversation can never happen due to my personality. I reject the statement of Baki Nugay that was read to me, stating that I requested a benefit regarding the payment of entitlements. Such a conversation never took place. As far as I have learned from the news in the media, I know that this person is under arrest as part of the investigations. I believe that this person has made such an untrue slander in order to escape his arrest."
Karalar stated that he served as the Mayor of Seyhan between 2014 and 2019, and that he has been serving as the Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality since 2019, and continued as follows:
"During my term, all tenders made by the Municipality were made in transparent and auditable processes. We are frequently audited by the Court of Accounts and Civil Inspectors regarding this matter. As a result of these audits, no irregularities were reported to us. The person named Özcan Zenger was a permanent employee at the Municipality during and before my term as Seyhan Mayor. Özcan Zenger was responsible for cleaning works during those periods. I did not speak to him as Baki Nugay claims. I only instructed Özcan Zenger to carry out cleaning works in the Seyhan Municipality area in a manner that would satisfy the public. I did not give any illegitimate or unlawful instructions to this person. I do not know whether Özcan Zenger was given any official assignment during the period he worked as you asked me about, such as going to Istanbul for a day and returning to Adana again."
ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOUT AZİZ İHSAN AKTAŞ
Zeydan Karalar was also asked why "Özcan Zenger met with individuals named Baki Nugay, Hamit Ünal, Tekin Sönmez, Adnan Tan Denhioğlu in Istanbul and Adana as claimed." Karalar said, "I have no information as to whether these individuals met in Istanbul and Adana, and if so, for what purpose."
Karalar, who stated that Özcan Zenger was responsible for the cleaning site and that he did not remember the individuals named Hamit Ünal, Tekin Aktaş and Adnan Tan Denhioğlu who were mentioned in the investigation, said, "I do not remember the details of the 27-second conversation you asked me about with the individual named Adnan Tan Denhioğlu because of the long time that passed. I heard the name of the individual named Aziz İhsan Aktaş that you asked me about from the media. I have no acquaintance with this individual. I have never had any commercial or debt-receivable relationship with any of the individuals who were read to me. This investigation is a completely political investigation. All of the allegations of the claimants are untrue."
Zeydan Karalar's lawyers also stated that all the allegations against their client were abstract and unfounded, and stated, "None of the allegations can be accepted. The legal conditions for the detention measure applied to our client have not been met. Considering our client's current position and the fact that he is performing a public duty, we request that the detention measure be terminated and he be released."
Source: News Center
Tele1
