31.05.2025 10:41
Details have emerged regarding the operation in which detention orders were issued for 47 individuals in four separate corruption investigations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). Aziz İhsan Aktaş, a key figure in the municipal investigations who is alleged to have led a criminal organization that organized tenders by bribing mayors and high-level officials of municipalities, has become a whistleblower. Following these confessions, the operation commenced.
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In the corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), a detention order was issued for 47 people, including former CHP Deputy Aykut Erdoğdu, the mayors of Gaziosmanpaşa, Büyükçekmece, Avcılar, Ceyhan, and Seyhan.
AZİZ İHSAN AKTAŞ BECAME A WHISTLEBLOWER, DETENTIONS AT MUNICIPALITIES In the investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the criminal organization allegedly headed by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, Aktaş, who wanted to benefit from the effective remorse provisions, provided additional statements on April 30 and May 11.
In his statement, Aktaş indicated that the municipalities from which he received contracts, especially Beşiktaş Municipality, made payments for entitlements in exchange for material benefits.
Aktaş explained that he was forced to give money to mayors and their assistants and to purchase properties and vehicles belonging to them at inflated prices, noting that he was compelled to provide money and vehicles for the election campaigns of mayoral candidates in the 2024 local elections.
Aziz İhsan Aktaş Following Aktaş's statement regarding politicians, mayors, and assistants who provided material benefits, the prosecutor's office identified 27 suspects, including IMM Deputy Secretary General Erdal Celal Aksoy, ISFALT General Manager Burak Korzay, Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Ozan İş, and Avcılar Deputy Mayor Erhan Daka, and issued detention orders for them on charges of "receiving bribes," "giving bribes," "embezzlement," and "interfering with tenders."
INVESTIGATION AGAINST THE BIGÇEKMECE MUNICIPALITY In the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the Büyükçekmece Municipality, it was determined that the mayor and officials forced construction companies operating in the district to make so-called donations to the Büyükçekmece Basketball Team, sponsor them, and that they did not grant construction and occupancy permits to business owners who refused these demands.
In Büyükçekmece, a construction-intensive area, it was found that relatives of the mayor managed excavation works in the district, profiting by dumping excavated materials in illegal areas, and a detention order was issued for 5 suspects, including Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün and Deputy Mayor Ömer Kazancı.
CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION AGAINST IMM In the corruption investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against suspects, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as IMM President after his arrest, charges of "being a leader of a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "embezzlement," "bribery," "qualified fraud," "illegally obtaining personal data," and "interfering with tenders" were investigated, and it was determined that former CHP deputy Aykut Erdoğdu facilitated bribery within İSTAÇ.
In the investigation, it was found that Ali Sukas, General Manager of Ağaç AŞ, requested money and vehicles from individuals and companies he worked with, and that the upper management of IMM requested money under the name of "commission" upon their orders.
It was also determined that Veysel Erçevik, Deputy Mayor of Beylikdüzü, received material benefits in exchange for granting occupancy permits from a contractor operating in the region.
Following these findings, a detention order was issued for 3 suspects in the investigation.
INVESTIGATION AGAINST BEŞİKTAŞ MUNICIPALITY Upon a tip-off regarding the direct procurement made by the Beşiktaş Municipality's Culture and Social Affairs Directorate for the celebrations of the October 29 Republic Day in 2019, an investigation was initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
In the investigation, it was determined that Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Alican Abacı, Mehmet Mandacı, who is currently the Deputy Mayor of Avcılar and was the Culture and Social Affairs Director at the time, and Rıza Can Özdemir, the current Deputy Mayor of Büyükçekmece, took the job under a shell company that did not have the qualifications to take the job and engaged in various irregularities, causing public harm.
Following these findings, detention orders were issued for 9 out of 11 suspects, including Avcılar Deputy Mayor Mehmet Mandacı and Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Rıza Can Özdemir, two of whom are in custody, on charges of "fraud to the detriment of public institutions" and "forgery in official documents."
30 OUT OF 47 SUSPECTS DETAINED In a simultaneous operation conducted by police teams, 30 suspects, including former CHP Deputy Aykut Erdoğdu and Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, were detained. It was determined that 3 suspects were in prison and 3 suspects were abroad. The teams continue their efforts to capture 11 suspects who are on the run. Additionally, it was learned that searches were conducted in the buildings of Avcılar, Büyükçekmece, and Gaziosmanpaşa Municipalities as part of the investigation.
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