Erdoğan aide confirms receiving two wages, says he donates of them to charity

Turkey's Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, in an attempt to refute claims that he received multiple wages, said that he didn't touch a penny of the allowance he received from his post at Borsa Istanbul. Altun receives an allowance of 18,000 liras as a board member of Borsa Istanbul.

Tuesday December 08 2020 02:16 pm

Duvar English

Turkey's Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun has tried to refute claims that he receives multiple salaries, although he confirmed that he gets more than one.

Altun said that he donates the 18,000-lira allowance he received for his work as a board member of Istanbul's stock exchange, Borsa Istanbul.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Deputy Chair Özgür Özel said on Dec. 3 that, between Altun and his wife, they received five wages. Özel also slammed additional raises to Altun's salary.

Altun was also criticized for using state resources in order to purchase a private car for himself and for waiving a tax requirement on his allowance from Borsa Istanbul.

Columnist Hilal Kaplan shared a message sent by Altun to a WhatsApp group where he says that he must address the lies about his five salaries.

"I have one salary. I haven't touched a penny of the allowance I've received as a Borsa Istanbul board member for the past two years. I donate it to charity," Altun said.

Altun doesn't receive wages for his position on the board of Manas University, he said, while his wife is only paid for her position at Marmara University, and not for her seat on the board of Turkish Airlines (THY).