Former Environment and Urbanization Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar submitted his testimony yesterday to the parliamentary commission in charge of investigating the corruption probe. “I didn’t do anything illegal and unlawful,” he said.
Today, former EU Minister Egemen Bağış is expected to make his statement at the commission.
No press allowed
The full name of the commission is as follows: Parliamentary Commission with the number 9/8 on former Economy Minister Mehmet Zafer Çağlayan, former Interior Minister Muammer Güler, former EU Minister Egemen Bağış and former Environment and Urbanization Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar.
While the commission took notice by anti-tapping devices in the room, a media entry was imposed in the corridor.
It also turned out that the request of media on the investigation of four former deputies was made by the parliamentary commission chairman and Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Hakkı Köylü.
“The sorrow of that moment”
According to Cumhuriyet newspaper’s article, Bayraktar claimed that he “didn’t do anything illegal and unlawful”.
After being reminded of his words “Whatever I did was under PM’s orders. He must resign then”, Bayraktar claimed that he said so under “the sorrow of the moment”.
“I didn’t want to say like that. We don’t submit anything unlawful to PM. And PM doesn’t approve anything unlawful,” he said.
Responding inquiries on his and his son’s relations with businessman Ali Ağaoğlu, Bayraktar said the following: “I told my son that Ali Ağaoğlu was not a reliable man and he should stay away from him as I do as well. But he didn’t listen to me. Now he sees what’s happening.”
Mentioning of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son Bilal Erdoğan, he said: He is such a “pure” man.
After spending 1.5 hours for his statement, Bayraktar responded press inquiries: “There is a media ban. It would be better without the ban.”
“I was told to run away but I didn’t”
On the other hand, Bayraktar denied the allegations that he was involved in corruption during the opening of Zorlu Center in Istanbul as well as accusations that he was involved in a gang.
Erdoğan Bayraktar’s advisor Sadık Soylu was also in the commission. He told the commission that Bayraktar called him on the morning of December 17 raids.
“Sadık, run away. They are going to detain you at some point, Bayraktar told me. But I didn’t run away,” he said. (AS/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
