Journalist on Erdoğan’s Plane Among Those Named in Widening Diploma Fraud Probe

A widening probe into diploma fraud surrounding jailed opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu has now extended to six additional individuals—one of whom is a well-known journalist regularly seen aboard President Erdoğan’s plane.

According to revelations on April 22, Milliyet newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief Özay Şendir is among the six under additional scrutiny in the ongoing investigation into unlawful university transfers at Istanbul University, the institution from which İmamoğlu received his controversial business degree.

“One of the Six Is Me,” Says Şendir

In a candid column published in Milliyet, Şendir confirmed:

“The university initially prepared a list of 28 people. But now we know it’s a list of 57. Of those, 28 diplomas were canceled, 10 students had withdrawn, and six—including me—are under additional review.”

Şendir stated that although neither prosecutors nor the university have contacted him so far, he chose to publicly disclose his status out of journalistic responsibility.

According to Şendir, the issue stems from a record dated January 31, 1990, showing a possible discrepancy in the timing of his transfer between departments—a date that “does not reflect reality,” he claimed.

“In truth, I transferred to Istanbul University in September 1989 and began attending classes by October. The date under review likely refers to the formalization of my internal transfer from the English to Turkish Business Administration program.”

“My Political Activism May Have Played a Role”

Şendir revealed that his academic path had been complicated by participation in student protests, including a hunger strike at his previous university and a November 6 protest against the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK) after transferring to Istanbul.

“After that protest, a faculty secretary told me my enrollment had been frozen because I was ‘an activist student’. I requested a transfer to the Turkish program because I couldn’t follow the English lectures anymore.”

Erdoğan’s Media Circle Under Scrutiny

Media Ombudsman Faruk Bildirici reported earlier this year that Şendir had boarded President Erdoğan’s official plane nine times over the past three years—raising questions about media favoritism and government ties.

The case against İmamoğlu centers on claims that his undergraduate diploma was based on an illegally processed university transfer, sparking accusations of forgery of official documents. On March 18, Istanbul University annulled 28 diplomas citing “nonexistent records” and “administrative errors.” Şendir’s case now adds a new dimension to what was initially seen as a politically motivated probe.