06.09.2026 01:40
In the investigation conducted on allegations of irregularities in building and occupancy permit procedures at Uskudar Municipality, 3 suspects, including Deputy Mayor Amine Cansu Celik, who was detained, have been arrested.
The investigation launched by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues into the allegations of "bribery" and "extortion" committed through irregularities in building and occupancy permit procedures at the Uskudar Municipality.
DEPUTY MAYOR CELIK AND 2 OTHERS ARRESTED Within the scope of the investigation, Burak Aydin, the municipality's Permit Inspection Manager, and operator Erdem Koyunyerli were also taken into custody during the ongoing operations. Deputy Mayor Amine Cansu Celik, Aydin, and Koyunyerli, whose procedures at the police station were completed, were taken to the courthouse. The suspects, who gave statements at the prosecutor's office, were referred to the duty criminal judgeship with a request for arrest. The judge ruled for the suspects' arrest in line with the request.
Amine Cansu Celik and Sinem Dedeatas WHAT HAPPENED? Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, based on reports, victim statements, and testimonies of some suspects indicating that Uskudar Deputy Mayor F.D., Mayor's Advisor U.M., Private Secretary A.K., City Inc. General Manager N.A., and relevant unit managers and staff had acted irregularly in the process of issuing building and occupancy permits, an investigation was initiated against Uskudar Mayor Sinem Dedeatas on charges of "bribery," "extortion," and "establishing or managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes."
It was determined that despite having no authority in the process of issuing building permits by the Uskudar Municipality, officials of the municipal affiliate City Inc. coordinated the building permit issuance process by instructing Uskudar Municipality personnel through an Excel spreadsheet created via an encrypted-closed circuit email communication network, using block-by-block color coding based on parcels.
According to MASAK data, it was determined that numerous sham "consultancy service" contracts totaling 1,078,870 lira were signed between City Inc. and contractors, and that through these contracts, 361,392,264 lira was extorted from contractors seeking unofficial building permits within the scope of the activities of the criminal organization for profit within the Uskudar Municipality and its affiliate City Inc.
It was established through HTS (call detail records), cell tower data, and suspect statements that when the total construction volume was large, bribes in US dollars were collected in cash from contractors under the coordination of Dedeatas's advisor U.M. and City Inc. General Manager N.A., and that in return for these bribes, occupancy permits were issued despite contrary to regulations, with the money being handed over in installments to U.M., the advisor of Sinem Dedeatas, inside the Uskudar Municipality building.
Following the investigations and determinations, in a simultaneous operation carried out on July 29 at 11 addresses, 6 suspects taken into custody were referred to the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse.
Among the suspects, Mayor Sinem Dedeatas, private secretary Alihan Kocoglu, architect Burcin Cevik, and contractor Bulent Orhan Tozkoparan were arrested by the judgeship, while Deputy Mayor Ceyhun Unlu and business tracker Adem Altintas were released under judicial control.
Within the scope of the investigation, on September 2, Deputy Mayors Amine Cansu Celik and Mithat Ozdemir were also taken into custody to obtain their statements. Deputy Mayor Ozdemir, referred to the courthouse, was released under the judicial control measure of a "travel ban abroad."