Melih Gökçek bought villa for 743,000 lira, sold for $1.265 million

September 13, 2026 at 07:02 AM2 min

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Former Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek bought a villa in Çankaya Oran Funda Sitesi for 743,000 lira in 2007 and sold it for $1.265 million in 2018, telling prosecutors he gave the proceeds to his son Ahmet. The villa was later found to have unauthorized modifications, including annexation of a park area, and Gökçek was tried for zoning violations but acquitted.

Key Facts

Melih Gökçek purchased the villa in Çankaya Oran Funda Sitesi for 743,000 lira in 2007, when the dollar exchange rate was 1.30 lira.
Gökçek sold the villa for $1.265 million in 2018, a profit of $694,000 over the purchase price.
The villa was subject to unauthorized modifications, including annexation of a park area and transformer area into the garden, construction of a garage ramp on green space, demolition of the entrance wall, removal of trees, and expansion of the basement.
Gökçek was tried for violations of Zoning Law No. 3194 and faced a prison sentence of 1 to 5 years, but was acquitted because it could not be determined who commissioned the illegal modifications.
Former MASAK Deputy Chairman Ramazan Başak highlighted a prosecutor's question about the cancellation of an 8.7 million euro shopping mall purchase under Germany's Anti-Money Laundering Act and a 300,000 euro fine.

Villa Purchase and Sale

Melih Gökçek, while serving as Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, bought the villa in Çankaya Oran Funda Sitesi for 743,000 lira in 2007. At the time of purchase, the dollar exchange rate was 1.30 lira in January 2007. Gökçek sold the villa for $1.265 million in 2018, stating in his prosecutor's statement that he gave the money to his son Ahmet for support. The sale price represented a profit of $694,000 over the original purchase price.

Zoning Violations and Trial

A court-accepted expert report found that the adjacent park area and transformer area were incorporated into the villa's garden, a garage ramp was built on green space, the entrance wall was demolished, trees were removed, and the basement was expanded toward the garden. Gökçek was prosecuted under Zoning Law No. 3194 and faced a prison sentence of 1 to 5 years. The court acquitted Gökçek because it could not be determined who had commissioned the illegal modifications. The villa's former owners were initially charged but were acquitted after it emerged that Gökçek had purchased the property two years earlier.

Investigation and MASAK Official's Comments

Melih Gökçek arrived at the prosecutor's office chewing gum, while his son Ahmet Gökçek left the statement smiling. Former MASAK Deputy Chairman Ramazan Başak said the investigation in Turkey may have started out of necessity. Başak drew attention to a prosecutor's question about the cancellation of an 8.7 million euro shopping mall purchase under Germany's Anti-Money Laundering Act and a 300,000 euro fine.