Shady Turkish ex-minister says state can investigate him anytime

Former minister and police chief Mehmet Ağar has said that the state can investigate him anytime following a series of allegations by mafia leader Sedat Peker. "I don't have any immunity. I have nothing to be afraid of," Ağar, one of the shadiest figures in Turkish politics, said.

Wednesday May 12 2021 01:03 pm

Duvar English

Former minister and police chief Mehmet Ağar has responded to the allegations of mafia leader Sedat Peker, saying that he has nothing to be afraid of.

Peker has recently accused Ağar, one of the shadiest figures in Turkish politics, and his son Tolga Ağar, a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), of various crimes, including murder and purchasing Bodrum's Yalıkavak Marina through threatening Azeri businessman Mübariz Mansimov Gurbanoğlu.

Peker also pointed to Mehmet Ağar in the unsolved murder of Kutlu Adalı in 1996 in Cyprus.

Ağar, whom Peker called "the head of deep state," denied the allegations and said that the state can investigate him anytime.

"It has been 25 years since I quit state service and 15 years since I left politics. I don't have immunity. The state can carry out any investigation into me anytime it wants. There is no obstacle for that," Ağar told the daily Sözcü on May 12.

"I have nothing to be afraid of," he added.

Claiming that websites belonging to the network of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are producing fake news against him and the Yalıkavak Marina, Ağar noted that "different tactics are being implemented."

"The main reason for bringing me to their agenda is to move us away from here. What will be done after they move us away is known: The mafia will come here. If the mafia can't enter [Turkey], it's because of us," Ağar said.

The former minister deemed critics of him "enemies of Turkey" and slammed some journalists and politicians for believing what Peker said.

Turning to the Yalıkavak Marina accusations, Ağar said that the Azeri businessman should have filed a lawsuit "if I really took the place through threatening."

"I'm a professional manager here. My position can be seen in all state records," he said.

Gurbanoğlu visited Gülen at least 10 times, Ağar said in response to Peker's claim that Ağar took the Azeri businessman to see Gülen.

Separately, the Yalıkavak Marina denied Peker's claims in a written statement, saying that Ağar is the CEO of the company and has never been a partner.