Muhittin Böcek confesses to 15 million euro demand from İmamoğlu for candidacy

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek confessed that during a meeting with Ekrem İmamoğlu, he was asked for 15 million euros for his candidacy and paid 5 million euros through the 'havala' system.

Scraper SystemJune 28, 2026, 05:07 PM

Muhittin Böcek confesses to 15 million euro demand from İmamoğlu for candidacy

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek confessed that during a meeting with Ekrem İmamoğlu, he was asked for 15 million euros for his candidacy. Böcek stated that he paid 5 million euros of this amount through an unregistered 'havala' system.

Akdeniz Belediyeler Birliği Başkanı olarak Türkiye Belediyeler Birliği Başkanı ve İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanımız Ekrem İmamoğlu'na (@ekremimamoglu) ziyarette bulundum. Gündeme ve çalışmalarımıza dair görüştük. Ekrem Başkanımıza ...

Additionally, detained Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek said about detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu: “He asked me for financial support of around 15 million euros (approximately 797 million lira at the current exchange rate).”

Muhittin Böcek's statement dated June 27:

* In my previous testimony given as part of the investigations against me, I made the necessary explanations regarding the payment I made to the late Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, at the request of Özgür Özel, during the election and candidacy process.

* Before my candidacy was announced, I went to Manisa on January 15, 2024, at the direction of Özgür Özel. Since my candidacy had not yet been announced, I went to Manisa because it was Özgür Özel's hometown and because he was the party leader, thinking it would also contribute to my candidacy.

* After the meeting in Ankara that I mentioned in my previous testimony, Özgür Özel specifically instructed me to provide financial and project support to Ferdi Zeyrek. Accordingly, when I went to Manisa province, I took approximately 950,000 euros in a bag with me.

* A social project presentation was made there. I also had a brief private moment with Ferdi Zeyrek. During this time, I left the money next to his desk. My previous statements on this matter are correct.

* Now, I want to recount another incident I experienced during the 2024 local election process.

* During my efforts to become a candidate for the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality mayoralty in the 2024 local elections, I learned that the Muratpaşa District Mayor had met with Ekrem İmamoğlu, had given him certain assurances regarding the determination of mayoral candidates, and would make substantial expenditures and payments in return.

* I also learned that an agreement had been reached with Ekrem İmamoğlu's advisor, Necati Özkan, regarding the election campaign.

'I went to Istanbul to meet with İmamoğlu about my candidacy'

* Following these developments, to clarify the situation and to speak directly with Ekrem İmamoğlu about my candidacy, I went to Istanbul by air on November 30, 2023, before my candidacy was announced.

Muhittin Böcek confesses to 15 million euro demand from İmamoğlu for candidacy