07.07.2025 17:59
The Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality, Zeydan Karalar, who was detained in a corruption investigation, denied the allegation that he paid 4 million 550 thousand lira to a company to obtain the entitlements of contracts during his tenure as the Mayor of Seyhan. Karalar stated, "I have never had any discussions regarding the provision of benefits to myself or any institution. Such a conversation could never occur given my character."
Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who was detained as part of the investigation into the criminal organization, stated regarding the allegation that Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar paid 4 million 550 thousand lira to a company to receive the entitlements of tenders during his tenure as Seyhan Mayor, "I have never had any discussions regarding the provision of benefits to myself or any institution related to the payment of entitlements. Such a conversation can never happen due to my character."
ACCESS TO ZEYDAN KARALAR'S STATEMENT
The investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the allegation that the criminal organization led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş organized tenders by bribing mayors and high-level officials of municipalities is ongoing.
In this context, Zeydan Karalar, the Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality, who was detained, has provided his statement at the Financial Crimes Investigation Department.
"MY MONTHLY INCOME IS 300 THOUSAND LIRA"
In his 56-page statement, Karalar declared that his monthly income is 300 thousand lira. In his statement, Karalar indicated that after all his questions were asked, he would provide a detailed defense after becoming aware of the accusations directed at him.
Karalar noted that he has companies named ATEKS and Başkent Pres registered under his name, stating that these companies continue to operate as family businesses, focusing on iron and steel operations, and that he has no unofficial partnerships with other companies.
During the interrogation, Karalar was read the statement of the suspect Baki Nugay. Nugay's statement included the following: "...I had difficulty receiving entitlement payments within the scope of the tenders we obtained from Seyhan Municipality. Money was demanded from me by the mayors in exchange for making the entitlement payments. The garbage collection and cleaning work of Seyhan Municipality was jointly taken by the companies B*** and A***.
After getting the job, I personally met with then Seyhan Mayor Karalar. Karalar told me that in order to receive regular payments, a certain amount needed to be paid to them every month and that we needed to carry out this process with the cleaning works manager Özcan Zenger (suspect). I knew that if we did not accept his request, our payments would be delayed. I had to accept the offer. In this context, transfers were made to the account of our project manager (suspect) Hamit Ünal and (witness) A.T.D. The withdrawn money was given to (witness) T.S. and delivered to Zenger by him."
DENIED THE ALLEGATION OF "4 MILLION 550 THOUSAND LIRA PAID"
The documents submitted to the investigation file by Nugay, stating that a total of 4 million 550 thousand lira was sent to the accounts of suspect Ünal and witness A.T.D. on 11 different dates, were also read to Karalar. In the findings related to the tender for the procurement of city cleaning services, it was noted that the tender was announced on May 14, 2015, the cost of the tender was approximately 99 million 754 thousand 569 lira, 9 tenders were submitted by the company, and 7 of them were deemed invalid.
It was reported that the 2 companies whose bids were deemed valid offered a price of 87 million 664 thousand 155 lira and that contracts were signed with the 2 companies on May 23, 2016. Additionally, during the interrogation, the HTS and base records of the suspects and witnesses mentioned in the investigation, as well as the bank account movements, were also shown to Karalar.
In response to the questions directed at him, Karalar stated that before 2014, the Seyhan Municipality was under the AK Party, and during his tenure as mayor, the garbage collection and transportation operations were continued by the company with the title B***.
"HE IS SLANDERING TO ESCAPE FROM DETENTION"
Karalar stated that the contractor continuing the work is Baki Nugay and added: "Upon my election as Seyhan Mayor, a municipal official whose name I do not remember said that the contractor Baki Nugay wanted to meet with me. I accepted his request and had a meeting with him. Neither in this meeting nor afterwards did I have any discussions with this person or any contractor regarding the payment of entitlements or the provision of benefits to myself or any institution.
"SUCH A CONVERSATION CAN NEVER HAPPEN DUE TO MY CHARACTER"
Such a conversation can never happen due to my character. Therefore, I reject the statement in Nugay's read statement that benefits were requested from me regarding the payment of entitlements. Such a conversation has never taken place. As far as I learned from the news in the media, this person is in custody. I believe that he has made such a false accusation to escape from his detention."
"TENDERS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED TRANSPARENTLY AND AUDITABLE"
Recalling that he served as the Mayor of Seyhan between 2014 and 2019, Karalar stated, "Since 2019, I have been serving as the Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality. Throughout my term, all tenders conducted by the municipality have been carried out in transparent and auditable processes. We are frequently audited by the Court of Accounts and the Ministry Inspectors regarding this. No irregularities have been reported to us as a result of these audits."
Karalar noted that suspect Özcan Zenger was a permanent municipal employee during the Seyhan Municipality period and was responsible for cleaning works, stating, "I have only instructed Zenger to ensure that the cleaning works in the municipal area are carried out satisfactorily for the public."
In response to the HTS records indicating that Zenger met with Baki Nugay, suspect Hamit Ünal, and witnesses T.S. and A.T.D. in Istanbul and Adana, Karalar stated, "I have no knowledge of whether these individuals met or, if they did, for what purpose they came together. Zenger is not the tender authority in the municipality. He is responsible for the cleaning site."
Karalar, recalling Hamit Ünal, T.A., and A.T.D., stated that he could not remember the 27-second phone call with A.T.D. on September 10, 2016, due to the long time that has passed. Karalar expressed that he heard the name of the organization leader Aziz İhsan Aktaş from the media and that he has no acquaintance with Aktaş, stating, "I have no commercial, debt, or receivable relationship with any of the individuals read to me. This investigation is entirely a political investigation. All the claims made by the accusers are completely false."