Trade Minister Ömer Bolat rejects claim of 170 million lira transfer

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat rejected a claim of a 170 million lira money transfer in a statement posted to his NSosyal account. Bolat said the sukuk account at Hedef Yatırım was transferred to Ziraat Bank for liquidation purposes and that capital market transactions are conducted through banks.

Scraper SystemOctober 09, 2026, 12:38 PM

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat rejects claim of 170 million lira transfer

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat responded in a statement posted to his NSosyal account to a claim of a 170 million lira money transfer that had come under public discussion. Bolat said the sukuk account he opened at Hedef Yatırım on February 26, 2024, was transferred to Ziraat Bank for liquidation purposes following the September 16 operation targeting seven financial companies.

He rejected the transfer claim

Bolat reacted to questions directed at him and Hedef Yatırım by two journalists on Sözcü TV. Saying that similar claims had been made about him following Ümit Özlale's remarks about a savings account, Bolat said no 170 million lira withdrawal had taken place.

In his statement, Bolat described the claim as the “first lie.” He also said that the Central Registry Agency cannot legally carry out transactions directly on the instructions of individuals, adding that MKK is the institution responsible for registering and safeguarding securities.

He said transactions were conducted through banks

Bolat said transactions in the capital markets are carried out through banks and by transfers to bank accounts. He added that more than 50 banks in Türkiye could be asked whether 170 million lira had been transferred from Hedef Yatırım or MKK to him or one of his relatives.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat (archive)

Bolat criticized those who made the claims, saying they lacked sufficient technical knowledge of how financial transactions work. He also said that legal proceedings could be initiated following the claims.

He explained how the sukuk account operated

Bolat said lease certificates, known as sukuk, are legal financial instruments through which multiple people can invest their savings. He noted that the portfolio invested in through these instruments does not belong to just one person and that different investors can be part of the same structure.

Bolat stressed that each investor's entitlement in the portfolio is limited to their own share. He argued that it is incorrect to present the total issuance amount of a lease certificate or an entire transaction within the portfolio as if it were the account of a single person.

Bolat announced that legal proceedings would be initiated, if those responsible are identified, against people who leaked financial data through the relevant banks and brokerage firms in a way that misrepresented the facts and published accusatory reports about him.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat rejects claim of 170 million lira transfer