26.01.2026 18:44
A detail caught attention in the indictment prepared as part of the corruption and bribery investigation against the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. It was stated that various currencies and digital materials worth 1 million 127 thousand 540 lira were found during the searches conducted at the home of Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek, who was arrested and suspended from duty.
On July 5, 2025, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek, along with his son Mustafa Gökhan Böcek, former Provincial Police Chief İlker Arslan, Fazlı Ateş, and Mehmet Okan Kaya, was arrested as part of the 'bribery' and 'corruption' investigation conducted by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The indictment prepared for 41 suspects was completed.
INDICTMENT OF 702 PAGES IN THE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION The 702-page indictment includes charges of 'extortion, unlawful acquisition of property, influence peddling, money laundering from criminal activities, qualified fraud, and defamation.' It was stated in the indictment that a legal assessment was made regarding 26 actions identified at this stage.
CASH OVER 1 MILLION LIRA AT BÖCEK'S RESIDENCE The indictment noted that during a search conducted at Muhittin Böcek's residence on July 5, 2025, 4 mobile phones, 3 SIM cards, 1 tablet, cash in different foreign currencies, and digital materials were seized. During the search, 50,900 lira, 12,935 euros, 11,355 dollars, 18,000 Russian rubles, 230 British pounds, and 50 Chinese yuan were confiscated, and it was determined that the total value of the seized money, based on the Central Bank's exchange rates on July 4, 2025, was 1,127,540 lira. Additionally, it was recorded that 5 external drives and 2 hard disks were also seized during the search of Böcek's office.
CORRESPONDENCE WITH DISMISSED POLICE OFFICER When the digital materials seized from Böcek's person, residence, and office were examined, messages that could be related to the crime were found on Böcek's mobile phones. The investigations revealed that in the messages exchanged with a person registered under the name 'Oktay Intelligence Police,' data regarding internet connections obtained through the social media user 'BIRD,' Antalya contacts, and phone information were transferred to Muhittin Böcek, who also responded to these messages and sent a photo believed to have been taken in his office. According to law enforcement findings, the individual was identified as O.A., who had previously been suspended from the police force and had his professional ties severed.
Muhittin Böcek DETAIL ABOUT MAYOR UYSAL IN THE CORRESPONDENCE In the messages found within the WhatsApp application between Böcek and O.A., it was noted that O.A. sent information regarding E.K., who had been processed as the leader of an armed criminal organization, having connections with Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal, to Muhittin Böcek, who was actively serving as the Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality at that time, considering it might be useful for him. It was stated that Muhittin Böcek did not respond to the mentioned message.
DID NOT ACCEPT THE CHARGES In his first statement to the prosecutor, Muhittin Böcek said that his son Mustafa Gökhan Böcek had been working as a contractor for about 2 years and that he became aware of the allegations regarding his son's divorce process with his ex-wife Zeynep Kerimoğlu during his police statement. Böcek stated, "I told my son not to let Zeynep be victimized during the divorce process. I learned from the police that the transfer of the house subject to the divorce agreement was paid for by Yusuf Yadoğlu. I do not have a detailed dialogue with Yusuf Yadoğlu. I do not know about my son's relationship with Yusuf Yadoğlu. I did not follow such a path in election campaigns in a city like Antalya. Our municipality is financially strong. We turned the municipality, which I took over with a debt of 6.1 billion lira in 2019, into the only metropolitan municipality without debts to the Social Security Institution today. I do not accept the charges against me. I cannot be held responsible for the irregularities committed by lower staff," he said.
REQUEST FOR A TRUSTEE FOR BABY ASLAN It was stated in the indictment that the property registered in the name of 2-year-old Muhittin Aslan Böcek, the son of Mustafa Gökhan and Zuhal Böcek, was seized, and that Zuhal Böcek had the right to reside in the property until her death, while Muhittin Aslan Böcek was considered materially responsible in the case. It was noted that both of his parents were suspects in the case, creating a conflict of interest, and that the appointment of a representative and management trustee for the minor child should be evaluated by the court in accordance with Articles 361 and 426 of the Civil Code.