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Muhittin Böcek claims Ekrem İmamoğlu requested 15 million euros
Muhittin Böcek, the former Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality who was arrested on July 5, 2025, following a bribery investigation, has provided additional statements from prison regarding the case.
In his latest testimony, Böcek alleged that Ekrem İmamoğlu requested 15 million euros in financial support in exchange for supporting his candidacy. Böcek claimed that during a meeting in Istanbul on November 30, 2023, İmamoğlu stated he would not promise candidacy to anyone else and would prefer Böcek, provided the financial request was met. Böcek further claimed he transferred an initial 5 million euros using the 'hawala' system, an unregistered money transfer method, through the Grand Bazaar.
Böcek also made claims regarding previous political funding, alleging he transported 950,000 euros to Manisa under instructions from Özgür Özel before the 2024 local elections.
Following Böcek's arrest, the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested an audit of the municipality's activities. In response, the Ministry of Interior has deployed special inspectors to examine the municipality's tender processes, specifications, and contract winners to identify any irregularities or misuse of public funds.
Entities
Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office · Antalya Metropolitan Municipality · Ekrem İmamoğlu · Ministry of Interior · Muhittin Böcek
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Muhittin Böcek claims Ekrem İmamoğlu requested 15 million euros in financial support in exchange for candidacy preference. www.odatv.com · www.haber7.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Böcek claims an initial 5 million euros was transferred via an unregistered 'hawala' system through the Grand Bazaar. www.odatv.com · www.haber7.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Böcek alleged he transported 950,000 euros to Manisa under instructions from Özgür Özel before the 2024 local elections. www.haber7.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of Interior has appointed inspectors to audit tenders conducted by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. www.haber3.com · www.yenialanya.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Böcek stated he told İmamoğlu he could cover the requested amount over time. www.odatv.com · www.haber7.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Muhittin Böcek was arrested on July 5, 2025, as part of a bribery investigation. www.haber3.com · www.yenialanya.com