According to the report Gülşen Deringöl, one of the judges at İstanbul's 9th Tax Court, will be among a team of judges presiding over a case against the media group. Deringöl is also the mother of Elif Deringöl, a news presenter at Kanal D, one of Doğan Holding's most well-known TV stations. The judge's family connections with the media group have raised concerns about her objectivity in the case.
Doğan Holding is currently facing various court cases over alleged tax fraud. The company's fine for alleged tax irregularities at its publishing companies between 2005 and 2007 increased to TL 4.8 billion earlier this month with interest and penalties. The fine is larger than the annual sales of Doğan Yayın and is more than the combined market value of Doğan Yayın and parent company Doğan Holding.
Judge Deringöl denied allegations that her daughter's position at Kanal D will affect her objectivity in the case. “I don't think this issue is unethical. I have not yet contributed to a verdict in the case. This [verdict] will be something we judges will decide on together,” she noted.
The judge also said her daughter was employed by Kanal D for her professional achievements. “Doğan Group employs around 15,000 people. My daughter joined the company by dint of her achievements and without the backing of any individual. Why would her being employed at that company bring me under suspicion?” she asked.
Deringöl, however, did not deny her contact with Doğan Holding. “I visited my daughter at Doğan headquarters. This is a part of my social life. Why shouldn't I visit my daughter there? I had lunch with her directors and friends. I also had lunch with lawyers there. But no case had been filed against the group at that time,” she stated.
There were earlier claims that two Doğan Holding lawyers had bribed officials at an İstanbul Tax Court to make sure that a specific, Doğan-friendly court would be appointed to their case. A majority of a total of 60 cases filed by Doğan against tax agencies have been handled by the same courts, the 6th Tax Court standing out as the court hearing Doğan-related cases most frequently, according to rumors.
