Son of Turkey’s aviation association head receives 1 mln liras as ‘consultancy’

Nurettin Kurt ANKARA

Osman Yıldırım was detained in an operation in Ankara on Oct. 28 over bribery and money laundering allegations. AA Photo

Emre Yıldırım, son of the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK) Chair Osman Yıldırım, has denied the allegations of receiving 1 million Turkish Liras as a bribe, claiming he received the money for the “consultancy” service he provided to the association.

Both Emre Yıldırım and his father Osman Yıldırım were detained after an operation on Oct. 28 over fraud allegations, though both deny the claims.

 “I am a partner of the ASAY Company. I studied finance in college. I worked at Turkish Aerospace Industries [TAI] on aviation. I have expertise on chopper maintenance and repair. I consulted the Azemoğlu Company on this topic. I received about 1 million Turkish Liras from consultancy services,” said Emre Yıldırım in his defense before the judge. “I deny the accusations.”

Nine members of the THK, including its chairman Osman Yıldırım, were detained in an operation in Ankara on Oct. 28 over bribery and money laundering allegations. Yıldırım and other officials are accused of leaking confidential information about the project for a maiden flight airplane manufactured in Turkey, the Türkkuşu.

The indictment prepared in the operation states that in addition to Yıldırım’s salary from the association, Yıldırım is accused of receiving a hefty amount of side income from six different companies.

According to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board’s (MASAK) report that was included in the indictment, 208,000 liras in 2012 and 401,500 liras in 2013 were paid to Yıldırım from six separate companies that are connected to THK.

Yıldırım said in his defense that he and other THK employees were being sabotaged and that his success was trying to be left in the shadow.

“It is out of the question that we received bribes and there is an increase in my properties. I have my own savings, I used credit when buying a house,” said Yıldırım, adding that his monthly wage was 50,000 liras.