07.08.2026 09:41
Within the scope of the 'bribery' and 'extortion' investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a third wave operation was carried out against the Kuşadası Municipality. While 15 suspects were detained in the simultaneous operation in Izmir, Aydın, and Antalya, arrest warrants were issued for 7 suspects.
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the third wave of operations against the Kusadasi Municipality was carried out.
Teams conducted simultaneous operations at addresses determined in Izmir, Aydin, and Antalya.
PROCEEDINGS INITIATED AGAINST 21 SUSPECTS
Within the scope of the investigation, proceedings were initiated against 21 suspects based on witness statements, effective remorse statements, HTS records, and MASAK reports.
The suspects include municipal administrators, a CHP council member, lawyers, businesspeople, company and hotel owners, as well as architects and engineers.
15 SUSPECTS DETAINED
In the simultaneous operation, 15 suspects were detained. Arrest warrants were issued for 7 suspects. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is continuing the investigation under the charges of "bribery" and "extortion."
WHAT HAPPENED?
The "bribery" and "extortion" investigation against the Kusadasi Municipality was initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Within the scope of the investigation, witness and complainant statements, suspect testimonies, HTS records, information and documents in the file, and account movements in reports prepared by MASAK were examined. In the first operation, 6 suspects, including Kusadasi Mayor Omer Gunel, were detained in simultaneous operations carried out in Aydin, Izmir, and Antalya.
Following their procedures at the police station, the suspects were referred to the courthouse. Mayor Omer Gunel, Construction Control Director Mustafa Burak Gundes, municipal architect and city planner Meral Celep, businessperson and former Kusadasispor Club President Ferdi Zenginoglu, and businessperson Huseyin Kabasakal were arrested. Judicial control measures were imposed on Director of Zoning and Urbanization Ahmet Taskan.
In the later stages of the investigation, the scope of the operations was expanded based on new statements, HTS records, and MASAK reports obtained. Finally, in the third wave of the investigation, proceedings were initiated against 21 suspects, including municipal administrators, a CHP council member, lawyers, businesspeople, company and hotel owners, as well as architects and engineers. In the simultaneous operation carried out in Izmir, Aydin, and Antalya, 15 suspects were detained, while arrest warrants were issued for 7 suspects. The investigation continues under the charges of "bribery" and "extortion."