In his statements and evaluations to the AA correspondent regarding the allegations made against him within the scope of the fund investigations, Minister of Commerce Ömer Bolat reminded that as a result of the decision taken by the government on September 16, an investigation was launched against 7 portfolio management companies and that some banks were assigned to liquidate 131 different funds belonging to these companies.
Stating that before the investigations were completed and it was not revealed whether there was any manipulation of the funds, people belonging to a party with a new name but an old mentality and the chairman of the party turned the process into a campaign of political abuse and lynching, Bolat said, "3 days ago in the evening, two reputation assassins on Sözcü TV put forward a slander that 'Ömer Bolat also closed his account from the fund before the operation' and immediately afterwards, they completed the perception operation with the second slander that 'He put in 400 million, withdrew 800 million'." They continued." he said.
Bolat stated that upon these slanders, they revealed all the facts clearly within an hour and immediately shared them with the public.
Emphasizing that, first of all, ministers declare their assets legally when they take office and during the following periods, Bolat continued his words as follows:
"These (declarations of assets) are already subject to control. On the other hand, we have stated that I have held top-level positions in the business world for 43 years. After I was appointed as a minister, I deposited 37.8 million liras, which was my family savings, into the sukuk and lease certificate account at Hedef Yatırım Portfolio Company, which has been operating in the capital market for approximately 16-17 years, on February 26, 2024. After that, I did not make a return from the sukuk investment."
"THEIR SlanderS WERE DESTROYED IN A VERY SHORT TIME"
Minister Bolat stated that all payment transactions in Türkiye are necessarily made through banks and payments are transferred to accounts through banks, and added:
"(On these allegations) I said, 'Hodri square, the account was not closed, you are slandering. No manipulative transactions were made regarding this account. In fact, a sukuk lease certificate is an interest-free money market instrument, and if the private institutions that issue sukuk pay their debts, it will have an annual return close to the inflation rate. I even published the return rates.' After refuting these slanders, I made it clear that I do not have any crypto or foreign savings account, and that I pay my regular taxes and insurance premiums to the state. "Thank God, our nation and our people know us, know our history, our pedigree, and know those who slandered us well. In this sense, these slanders were destroyed in a short time, with the intense support and prayers of our dear citizens."
"HERE HERE, AN OPEN INVITATION TO Slanderers, FIND THE ACCOUNT CLOSURE OF 170 MILLION LIRA"
Minister of Commerce Bolat stated that upon the change in the course of the process, New Party Izmir Deputy Ümit Özlale made two new slanders that were unconscionable and unbecoming of a scientist, even though he could easily reach him on October 8, and stated that one of them was about himself and the other was about the Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş.
Emphasizing that he and Göktaş refuted these new slanders with evidence within a few hours and that it was revealed to be a slander, Bolat made the following statements:
"In my immediate reply to Ümit Özlale on the same day, I stated that there was no record of such a withdrawal of 170 million liras in the Central Registry Board before the September 16 operation, and that our sukuk account was transferred to Ziraat Bank for liquidation. In addition, if any account closing or withdrawal transaction had been made in Türkiye, it should have been a transfer transaction in a bank. MKK is a registration and storage center and is not an institution that will make financial transactions upon the request given directly by a person. Also, 'Here you go. "I made an open invitation, 'You can ask all the banks in Türkiye, find out if there is an account closing or withdrawal of 170 million liras belonging to me and my relatives in any bank.' Of course, they could not give an answer."
Stating that despite all this, the slanders continue, Bolat continued his words as follows:
"Although all these facts have been revealed by us, New Party Chairman Özgür Özel, at the Mersin rally yesterday, shamelessly and tirelessly tried to create the perception that I closed my sukuk account and withdrew the money, which has nothing to do with the fund investigations, by saying 'Minister of Commerce Ömer Bolat also made a transaction worth 170 million liras'. Their tactics here are as follows: First they will tell a small, plain and simple lie. Then they will repeat this lie over and over again. Then they will sit back and enjoy this lie." "They will watch with pleasure how it is perceived as true by the masses. Özgür Özel and his men are following this tactic."
"THEY TRIED TO CREATE PERCEPTION BY FORGING DOCUMENTS"
Minister Bolat stated that they investigated the allegations in detail together with lawyers and experts and made the following evaluations:
"There is absolutely no money withdrawal and account closure of 170 million liras in my MKK records, which can be accessed via e-Government, and in our sukuk account at Hedef Yatırım Portfolio Company. This is a huge lie and slander. They have forged documents as follows: Regarding the sukuk lease certificates with different maturities in my account at the investment portfolio company, different transactions are carried out for the old issues that have expired and the new issues that are replaced. They tried to create a perception of manipulation by collecting all the overdue collections and payments made for the purchase of new sukuk lease certificates in the period of 2 years and 8 months, that is, 32 months, by saying 'they made a transaction of 170 million lira and withdrew money.' In addition, we have determined that no new sukuk payment and collection transactions have been made in the records since October 25, 2024.
I make an open call to them once again. If they have the guts, they can officially ask the CRA and find out the truth. They definitely have a few moles in financial institutions, they can ask them too. They can also ask their close people in the banking system, 'Has there been a withdrawal of 170 million liras to the accounts of Ömer Bolat or his relatives?' "This forgery of documents is an act of immorality, not politics."
"WE WILL HOLD DOWN IN THE SUPREME TURKISH COURTS"
Minister of Commerce Bolat stated that due to these lies and slanders, the Turkish nation has not shown the face of power to this mentality for 24 years, and that it is clearly seen by the public how many municipalities they won only in the last two local elections were collapsed and plundered, and that they are held accountable before justice.
Stating that those who put forward these slanders think that "the people in front of them are like them", Bolat concluded his words as follows:
"Their greatest capital is lies and slander. With this, they act with the desire to obscure the great services provided for our country and our people, so that one day they will come to power and collapse. We will settle accounts with them in the supreme Turkish courts. What is the executioner of dignity, the assassination of reputation? I will continue this fight with them in the judiciary until the end."
