Beykoz Municipality Case... Alaattin Köseler's Striking Defense: 'When I First Won the Election, I Had a Letter from the President'

In a dramatic courtroom defense, Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, facing charges of bid rigging and forming a criminal organization, declared his trial to be politically motivated. Detained for 425 days, Köseler vehemently denied any wrongdoing, presenting himself as a victim of political machinations rather than a criminal. His impassioned plea for justice highlighted his belief that his detention serves specific political interests, especially after a court initially granted him bail only for it to be overturned following a shift in the political climate.

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This case is political.

Köseler directly challenged his accusers, suggesting that if they truly seek to unseat him, they should do so through democratic means. "If they want it badly enough, the arena is there. Let them set up the ballot box and let's compete. The brave ones come out onto the field, they fight their battle there," he stated, framing the legal battle as a proxy for a political contest. He underscored his commitment to the people of Beykoz, asserting that he has always strived to use the municipal budget for their benefit and would never engage in actions detrimental to them.

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I have no account that I cannot settle. I expect your honorable panel to deliver a fair decision that does not wound consciences. Whose interest is it that I have been lying here for 425 days without evidence or proof? I wish for the end of my detention process, which is beyond conscience.

The mayor's defense also touched upon the complexities of Beykoz's urban planning issues and alleged pressures on prosecutors. He alluded to internal municipal dynamics, suggesting that personnel changes he initiated to ensure efficiency were met with resistance, leading to accusations against him. Köseler's narrative paints a picture of a dedicated public servant caught in a web of political intrigue, using his trial as a platform to rally support and assert his innocence against what he perceives as unjust persecution.

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If they want it badly enough, the arena is there. Let them set up the ballot box and let's compete. The brave ones come out onto the field, they fight their battle there.