14.01.2026 20:00
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office filed an objection to the release decision of 3 defendants in the case involving 14 defendants regarding the concert expenses of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality for the 2021-2024 period, and issued a warrant for their arrest.
In the latest session of the case regarding the concert expenses of ABB, held at the Ankara 34th Heavy Penal Court, it was decided to release 5 defendants who were being tried in detention under judicial control conditions.
ARREST WARRANT FOR 3 DEFENDANTS RELEASED IN THE CONCERT CASE
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had appealed to the Ankara 35th Heavy Penal Court regarding the release of the defendants. Evaluating the appeal, the Ankara 35th Heavy Penal Court decided to re-arrest the defendants Selahattin Çelikkaya, Onur Evren, and Hacı Ali Bozkurt. An arrest warrant was issued for the defendants.
BACKGROUND OF THE CASE
An investigation was initiated based on the allegation in the indictment prepared by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office that the concert expenses of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) during the 2021-2024 period "caused public damage."
"UNJUST BENEFIT OF 154 MILLION LIRA WAS PROVIDED"
In the indictment, it was claimed that payments were made that were not in accordance with market prices for the concerts and technical service procurements carried out by ABB and the Department of Social Affairs, leading to public damage. According to the report prepared by inspectors from the Ministry of Interior and the expert report dated September 17, 2025, it was noted that in the 32 concert service procurements carried out during the 2021-2024 period, payments were made to contractor firms above market value, thus providing a total unjust benefit of 154 million 453 thousand 221 lira.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 31 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS IN PRISON
In the indictment, it was requested that the defendants, including the former Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of ABB Hacı Ali Bozkurt, former Deputy Director of Cultural Events Haluk Erdemir, former Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department Hüseyin Zehir, and Deputy Director of Cultural Events Celal Akbaş, as well as company owners Onur Evren, Selahattin Çelikkaya, Kaan Alp, and Sıla Evren, be sentenced to up to 31 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of "qualified embezzlement in a chain."
For former Deputy Director of Cultural Events Alp Aykut Çıngır, Deputy Director of Cultural Events Kurtuluş Bakır, and company owners Arda Akman, Eren Demir, Levent Erdoğan, and Üstün Alpay, a prison sentence of up to 18 years was requested for the crime of "qualified embezzlement."
In the case where 14 defendants are being tried at the Ankara 34th Heavy Penal Court, during the session held on January 8, the court announced its interim decision, ruling for the release of detained defendants Hacı Ali Bozkurt, Onur Evren, Selahattin Çelikkaya, Haluk Erdemir, and Hüseyin Zehir under judicial control conditions.