Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) parliamentary group deputy chairman Özgür Özel on Monday submitted documents to a prosecutor’s office that allegedly reveal President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s close circle sent about $15 million to an offshore company called Bellway Limited on the Isle of Man, the Diken news website reported.
Speaking to the media, Özel said the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office has already launched an investigation into the money transferred by the close circle of President Erdoğan.
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said during a party meeting in Parliament on Nov. 28 that Erdoğan’s brother-in-law, brother, son, son’s father-in-law and his former executive assistant sent about $15 million to an offshore company called Bellway Limited on the Isle of Man between December 2011 and January 2012.
Claiming that the documents are fake, President Erdoğan and members of his family on Friday filed a lawsuit against Kılıçdaroğlu for TL 1.5 million ($380,000) in damages for creating hatred in society against the president and his family.
On Nov. 24 Erdoğan filed another lawsuit against Kılıçdaroğlu for TL 1.5 million in non-pecuniary damages due to a speech on Nov. 21.
Kılıçdaroğlu had said in an address in Istanbul: “Dear Erdoğan, do you know that your children, your brother-in-law, the father-in-law of your [son], your brother and your former principal clerk have sent millions of dollars to a tax haven?”
In response to claims leveled by Kılıçdaroğlu, Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) İstanbul deputy Metin Külünk said Kılıçdaroğlu has become a national security issue.
“Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the CHP have become a national security issue for Turkey. It must be evaluated at the National Security Council meeting,” Külünk tweeted.