Former Ankara Mayor Gökçek testifies in corruption probe, leaves without arrest

September 5, 2026 at 05:03 AM2 min

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Former Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gökçek testified as a suspect at the Ankara Courthouse in an investigation into alleged real estate investments through his family's Germany-based HAMAG GmbH and illicit money transfers abroad. He left the courthouse without being detained, returning home. His son, AKP Ankara MP Osman Gökçek, issued a written statement defending his father's chewing gum as a remedy for diabetes-related dry mouth.

Key Facts

Melih Gökçek arrived at the Ankara Courthouse in a Mercedes S400d with a list price of 23 million Turkish lira, accompanied by bodyguards.
Gökçek stated he has faced 500 investigations and inquiries since 1994, all resulting in no prosecution.
Journalist Fatih Altaylı said the government aims to recover part of the wealth from those who enriched themselves unjustly during its tenure, mentioning a figure of 5 billion dollars in connection with the Gökçek investigation.
Ümmü Piri, a woman who says Gökçek unjustly exiled her to Mersin, protested him as he left the courthouse.

Testimony and Departure

Gökçek entered the courthouse chewing gum and declined to answer reporters' questions before his testimony, saying he would make a statement on the way out. SÖZCÜ TV reporter Emre Sercan İke said Gökçek reacted to repeated questions by saying 'You are coming at me' and made a dismissive hand gesture when asked about former Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç. After giving his statement, Gökçek left without being detained, in contrast to many opposition figures who have been arrested and sent to prison in similar cases. He did not answer journalists' questions about the corruption allegations as he departed.

Son's Defense

Osman Gökçek, AKP Ankara MP and son of Melih Gökçek, issued a written statement addressing the chewing gum. He said his father is diabetic and uses gum and chewable tablets to relieve dry mouth.

Investigation Context

The investigation concerns allegations that Gökçek made real estate investments through HAMAG GmbH, a company his family established in Germany, and transferred unregistered money to companies abroad. Gökçek said he was elected mayor in 1994 and served nine years in opposition, during which he faced 500 investigations and inquiries from SHP, DSP, and ANAP governments, all ending in non-prosecution. He added that he was even taken into custody in 1998 and underwent 100 investigations during the Refah Partisi and AK Parti periods, with no findings against him. Fatih Altaylı summarized the investigation as the government pressing a button to recover part of the wealth from those who enriched themselves unjustly during its own period, and said such an operation would receive public support.