05.06.2026 06:20
54 suspects detained in the corruption investigation into Izmir's Buca Municipality and its affiliated subsidiaries were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the police station. Among the suspects is Buca Mayor Görkem Duman.
As part of the corruption investigation into Izmir's Buca Municipality and its affiliated entities, 54 suspects taken into custody have been referred to the courthouse.
Within the scope of the investigation led by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the procedures at the police station have been completed for the 54 suspects, including Buca Mayor Görkem Duman, who were detained by the Izmir Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit. Under extensive security measures, the suspects were transferred from the Izmir Police Department's Yeşilyurt Service Building to the Izmir Courthouse.
INVESTIGATION
As part of the corruption investigation into Buca Municipality and its affiliated entities conducted by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, detention orders were issued for 62 suspects.
A total of 53 suspects, including Buca Mayor Görkem Duman, former Buca Mayor Erhan Kılıç, deputy mayors, former CHP District Chairperson Ç.K., managers and employees of municipal affiliates, as well as some company owners and contractors, were detained on June 1 at designated addresses in Izmir, Ankara, Erzincan, and Çanakkale by teams from the Financial Crimes Unit of the Provincial Police Department.
It was stated that 3 of the suspects are in prison, arrest warrants have been issued for 4 individuals abroad, and efforts continue to apprehend 2 more suspects.
On June 2, the number of detained suspects rose to 54 with the capture of municipal affiliate manager K.B.
The suspects were brought to the Izmir Police Department's Yeşilyurt Service Building.
In the investigation file covering the municipal administration, zoning units, affiliates, and the contractor environment, irregularities such as illegal zoning transactions, floor and apartment increases in exchange for bribes, bribery in permit and occupancy certificate processes, use of municipal affiliate credit cards for personal expenses, the "ATM clerk" system, and direct procurement and tender irregularities were noted.
It was alleged that some contractors used special methods among themselves to make payments to municipal officials, provided bribes to municipal staff to overlook irregularities in construction company projects, and that this payment flow was referred to as "soap" in some circles meaning "problem solving/postponement."