Trade Minister Bolat Denies 170 Million Lira Transfer Allegations

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat rejected allegations that he withdrew 170 million lira from a sukuk account at Hedef Yatırım before a government probe into seven portfolio management firms. Bolat stated Central Registry Agency (MKK) records contain no such withdrawal or account closure, calling the claim a "first lie" and a forged document created by aggregating routine transactions over 32 months.

Bolat said he deposited 37.8 million lira of family savings into the sukuk account on February 26, 2024, and made no further withdrawals. He explained the account was transferred to Ziraat Bankası for liquidation on September 16, 2026, after the government launched an investigation into 131 funds managed by the seven firms.

“"We destroyed these slanders in a very short time."”

The minister accused unnamed figures from a "newly named but old-minded party" and its leader of turning the probe into a political lynching campaign. He cited a Sözcü TV broadcast three days earlier where commentators claimed he closed the account before the operation and later alleged 400 million lira deposited and 800 million withdrawn.

Bolat challenged accusers to find the alleged 170 million lira account closure in bank records, noting all transactions must pass through banks. He added that he holds no crypto or foreign savings accounts and has paid taxes and insurance premiums regularly.