In the operations carried out on different dates after February 28 within the scope of the investigation carried out against Bolu Municipality, Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, Deputy Mayors Süleyman Can and Leyla Beykoz, BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız, BOLSEV Board Member Aydan Özdemir, Municipal Council Member Cihan Tutal, the municipality's Financial Services Manager Naim Ayhan and Bolu Greengrocers Chamber President Mustafa Altındal were arrested. During the trial process, Leyla Beykoz, Aydan Özdemir, Naim Ayhan and Cihan Tutal were released.
In the indictment prepared by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against 19 defendants, 4 of whom were detained, it was requested that Tanju Özcan be sentenced to a total of 90 years and 3 months to 263 years and 6 months in prison for his actions against each victim, for 6 times of 'Extortion by force', 3 times of 'Attempted Extortion', 34 times of 'Qualified fraud' and 1 time of 'Bribery'. Detained Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can was sentenced to a total of 27 years and 6 months to 64 years for 5 counts of 'Extortion by force', 2 times for 'Attempted Extortion', and BOLSEV Board Chairman Ali Sarıyıldız was sentenced to 72 years for 6 counts of 'Aiding the crime of extortion', 3 times for 'Attempting to assist in the crime of extortion' and 34 times for 'Aggravated fraud'. Prison terms ranging from 7 months and 15 days to 218 years and 9 months were requested.
IN REVIEW, REQUEST FOR UP TO 217 YEARS OF PRISON FOR ÖZCAN
In the second hearing last month, the public prosecutor announced his opinion on the merits of the case filed after the indictment. In the opinion, effective remorse provisions were applied for Tanju Özcan for the crime of 'Qualified fraud' against 32 victims, and a total prison sentence of 69.5 years to 217 years was requested for the crimes of 'Chain extortion by coercion', 'Extortion by coercion', 'Attempted extortion by coercion' and 'Taking bribe'. Effective remorse provisions were applied to the other 18 defendants for the crime of 'Qualified fraud', and a prison sentence of varying rates was requested for the crimes of 'Chained extortion by coercion', 'Extortion by coercion', 'Aiding extortion by coercion', 'False testimony', 'Favoritism of the criminal' and 'Bribery', and a decision was requested to continue the detention of the detained defendants.
THE 3RD HEARING CONTINUES ON THE 2ND DAY
Tanju Özcan's defense was taken yesterday in the third hearing held at Bolu 3rd High Criminal Court, in the gymnasium of Bolu Social Sciences High School, which was converted into a hearing room. On the second day of the hearing, detained Bolu Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can made his defense by connecting remotely via SEGBİS from Ankara Sincan Prison.
Reminding that he worked for the municipality for 31 years, Can said, regarding the allegations that money was taken from the markets to BOLSEV, "I cannot tell the market owners or other people not to visit me. I also had meetings with these people. Dozens of people were calling me during the day. It is not possible for me to force the market officials, advertise or donate. I did not call anyone. They also visited me after the criminal proceedings. The complainants testified here. I only know a few of them. I did not take anyone's phone. They came to the table or to the table of their own will. bir yere bırakmış olabilirler. Ben başkan Özcan ile birlikte bazı toplantılara katılırdım. Teklif dağıtıldı ama farklı bir şey olmadı. Market yetkilileri ile yapılan toplantıda Tanju Beyin ya seve seve başlayan ifadesini ben duymadım. Olay şikayet edildikten sonra müfettişler geldi. Konuyla ilgili tüm evrakları verdim. Müfettişlerde marketler olayı ile ilgili bir suç bulmadı. Ceza kesilen marketler de bana geldi. Ben de cezanın iptal edilemeyeceğini bunun için adliyeye başvuru yapabileceklerini söyledim. Mülkiye başmüfettişleri de kesilen cezaların yasaya uygun olduğunu söylediler. Ben hayatımda yalan "I didn't say anything, I live for my honor and dignity. I didn't receive any instructions from Tanju Özcan, I didn't give any instructions to the police. The council decides on the punishments and the periods given," he said.
'POLITICS IS NOT FOR ME, I WILL NOT DO THIS JOB'
Can said the following in his defense regarding the allegations that money was extorted from the contractor Nazmi Güzel to the foundation:
"I was never involved in that issue. I know that Nazmi Güzel has been doing construction work in Bolu for many years. We have never come together and met. I only met with his wife a few times. There is talk of a money issue. I neither saw nor received any money. It is said that the money was given to me. I swear that I was not involved in such an incident. I do not accept these accusations. As of February 28, the conditions are very difficult in Sincan, where I arrived on March 3. I do not know why I am here. Even after I left here. "Politics is not for me, so I will not do this job."
ALI SARIYILDIZ MADE HIS DEFENSE
Arrested defendant Ali Sarıyıldız, BOLSEV Foundation Board Member, also made his defense in court. Sarıyıldız, who first made his defense against the allegations that money was received from the market officials to BOLSEV, stated that he had no authority in the municipality and said, "I did not attend the meeting. I held the last meeting after the contract. They already said that I did not force, I was a conciliator. I do not have the authority to give instructions to the police. My conversations with the market officials are entirely about how the advertisements will be done."
Sarıyıldız said the following regarding the collection of sacrifice donations for BOLSEV:
"The mayor told me to work on the sacrifice incident. When we started working, friends published advertisements because there was little time left for the Eid. Then, when we realized that we had made a mistake, we removed the advertisements. We deposited the money sent to a separate account. My aim was to ensure the full return of the money. We set out for the sacrifice, but we canceled it because the conditions were not met. There is no benefit in this incident, I do not know how fraud can occur in a place where there is no benefit. We do not receive a salary from the foundation, we do this job on a completely voluntary basis. The foundation's company currently has 50 million in cash and "There is a check, there are vehicles worth 15 million, there are goods worth 15 million. What kind of frauds are we that brought the company to this situation? I have a child who is 100 percent disabled and needs my care. I demand my acquittal and release."
'I DO NOT ACCEPT THE ALLEGATIONS THAT I MEDIATED BRIBERY'
Detained defendant Mustafa Altındal, on the other hand, stated that he did not accept the opinion on the basis of his defense and said, "Is it my fault to meet with the mayor regarding the license issue in this case? I did not have a bribe meeting with anyone, I did not act as an intermediary for bribery to anyone. I was not in a conversation about giving a license with a bribe in exchange for money. Money was not discussed there in any way. I do not accept the accusations that I was an intermediary in bribery. I do not accept the bribery accusation made against me based on this money. I want it to be revealed with what words I made the bribery agreement. "I want the clearly stated behavior to be revealed. I did not mediate any bribery negotiations or bribery. While I am trying to explain myself with the accusations, I am thinking of my brother and my mother, I am not guilty, I demand my acquittal and release."
In the part of the hearing until noon, the defenses of the detained defendants were completed. The hearing will continue after the lunch break with the defense of the defendants being taken into custody.
