28.01.2026 13:02
The trial of the organized crime investigation involving 200 defendants continues on its second day. The first defendant to give a defense was the detained Deputy Mayor of Adıyaman, Ceyhan Kayhan, who stated, "The money transactions with a friend I have known for years turned into bribery. The 25 thousand lira I sent was presented as if I had received a bribe. I do not accept this."
The trial of 200 defendants, including 7 mayors who have been suspended from their duties, continues on its second day within the scope of the investigation into the criminal organization led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş.
In the courtroom located opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution, the Istanbul 1st Heavy Penal Court is holding the hearing, where some of the detained defendants, including Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, who were suspended from their duties after their arrests, along with the lawyers of the parties, were present.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL ALSO AT THE HEARING At the hearing attended by some of the defendants who are not in custody, including Aziz İhsan Aktaş, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, Özgür Çelik, who was re-elected as the CHP Provincial Chairman at the 39th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress on October 20, 2025, some CHP deputy chairpersons, members of parliament, mayors, party executives, party members, and relatives of the defendants were present as spectators.
The hearing, which is being closely monitored by a large number of press members, is under heavy security measures taken by the gendarmerie personnel in the courtroom and its surroundings.
The hearing began with the listening of procedural requests from some lawyers, and the defenses of the detained defendants are being taken. The first detained defendant to give a defense was Ceyhan Kayhan, the Deputy Mayor of Adıyaman, who stated that he has always worked in municipalities throughout his career.
"THE MONEY TRANSACTIONS WITH FRIENDS I HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS TURNED INTO BRIBERY TRANSACTIONS" Kayhan, who stated that he started working at the Adıyaman Municipality in May 2024, said, "I regret to say that evil has become so commonplace in our country that people can slander without thinking for their own comfort and lives. I am facing such a situation and I have been in prison for 8 months. The friend who made a statement about me, Savaş Ç, I know him. He lives in Izmir. Our acquaintance goes back a long way. But for some reason, I have been slandered like this. The money transactions with a friend I have known for years turned into bribery transactions. The 25 thousand lira I sent was presented as if I had received a bribe. I do not accept this." he said.
"I HAVE NOT RECEIVED BRIBES FROM ANYONE" Kayhan, stating that his friendship with Savaş Ç, who made a statement about him, is longstanding, said, "I have paid all the money I received. My family paid after I was arrested. I have no debt to him. I want it to be known. This friend says he does not know me. There is no such thing. He knows very well. He has lied so much in the file. There is an accusation from the prosecution that I mediated bribery. I have not received bribes from anyone, I did not mediate bribery. I swear on all my values. I did not give any tenders to anyone." he stated.
At the hearing, the defenses of the other detained defendants are being taken.
In the hearing that started yesterday, the defendants were identified, and the summary of the indictment was read.
Defendant Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who is not in custody From the indictment;
In the 579-page indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Beşiktaş Municipality, Avcılar Municipality, Esenyurt Municipality, Istanbul ASFALT Factories Inc. and Istanbul Electric Tram and Tunnel Operations General Directorate are listed as "victims of the crime," 19 people as "victims," and 200 people, 33 of whom are detained, as "suspects."
In the indictment, it is requested that defendant Aziz İhsan Aktaş be sentenced to imprisonment for 187 to 450 years for the crimes of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "interfering with a tender" from 42 different acts, "interfering with the performance of a duty" from 4 different acts, "forgery in official documents" from 5 different acts, "forgery in private documents" from 21 different acts, "fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations," "giving bribes" from 10 different acts, "laundering assets derived from crime," and "issuing false invoices."
In the indictment, it is requested that Avcılar Mayor defendant Utku Caner Çaykara, who was suspended from his duty after his arrest, be sentenced to imprisonment for 5 to 15 years for the crimes of "interfering with a tender" and "receiving bribes" from 2 different acts, and that Esenyurt Mayor defendant Ahmet Özer, who was suspended from his duty, be sentenced to imprisonment for 3 to 9 years for the crimes of "interfering with a tender" from 2 different acts and "forgery in private documents" from 2 different acts.
In the indictment, it is requested that Seyhan Mayor defendant Oya Tekin, Ceyhan Mayor defendant Kadir Aydar, Adana Metropolitan Mayor defendant Zeydan Karalar, and Adıyaman Mayor defendant Abdurrahman Tutdere, who was suspended from his duty and reinstated after the judicial control was lifted, be sentenced to imprisonment for 4 to 12 years for the crime of "receiving bribes."
In the prepared indictment, it is requested that Beşiktaş Mayor defendant Rıza Akpolat be sentenced to imprisonment for 133 to 337 years for the crimes of "being a member of a criminal organization," "interfering with a tender" from 26 different acts, "forgery in official documents" from 3 different acts, "forgery in private documents" from 19 different acts, "fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations," "receiving bribes" from 4 different acts, "laundering assets derived from crime," and "unjust enrichment," and that the assets obtained from the crime be confiscated.