Petrol Ofisi case devoid of legal, concrete base: Aydın Doğan

Doğan Group Honorary Chairman Aydın Doğan has declared a case into one of the group's former companies, Petrol Ofisi, to be entirely devoid of any legal or concrete basis during the latest hearing into the case on May 8.

"The fact that the officials in the incorporated company are accused of 'forming a group to commit crimes,' 'being close to the formed group,' 'forgery in official documents' and 'fuel smuggling' is irrational and incomprehensible," Doğan told the court, adding that he was not on the board of directors of Petrol Ofisi, an oil retailer formerly owned by the Doğan Group.

The accusations in the case date back to between 2001 and 2008 when Doğan Holding and İşbank, and later OMV, were stakeholders in fuel distributor Petrol Ofisi. Prosecutors accuse İşbank, Doğan Holding, OMV and then-Petrol Ofisi managers of undervaluing the value of 56 cargo transactions between 2001 and 2007.

Noting that the holding won the tender within the framework of the law, Doğan said he went to the company's building less than 10 times in 10 years. 

"There is no legal or logical basis to the allegations of the crimes committed. This is an unjust case. As I said before, I wasn't on the board of directors of this company. Petrol Ofisi was in our holding's body for 10 years. However, I never actually participated in any of the operations of the company. The total number of my visits to the company building doesn't even amount to 10," he said.  

Four suspects attended the hearing held on May 8 at the Istanbul 1st Court of Serious Crimes. 

In his defense, Doğan rejected all charges and said they were unfounded accusations directed by Hayyam Garipoğlu. 

"One of the accusations directed against me during the investigation...