08.05.2026 17:35
The assets of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek, who was dismissed and arrested in the "bribery" investigation, along with his son Mustafa Gökhan Böcek and daughter-in-law Zuhal Böcek, have been seized.
Within the scope of the investigation launched against Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, the assets of the dismissed and arrested Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek, his son Mustafa Gökhan Böcek, and his daughter-in-law Zuhal Böcek have been seized on charges of "bribery, procuring bribery, extortion, and laundering proceeds of crime."
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW SAID IN HER STATEMENT, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY HUSBAND DOES FOR A LIVING"
Zuhal Böcek, arrested within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, stated in her prosecutor's statement that she did not know what her husband Gökhan Böcek did for a living or what his sources of income were.
Stating that her husband comes from a wealthy family and that he paid off his parents' debts and provided financial support, Böcek claimed: "I never saw Gökhan come home with a bag full of money. I didn't know he used drugs. Once, I saw white powder residue in his wallet. I suspected Gökhan used drugs. After that, I started going through his wallet and such. Although the Forensic Medicine report states that I used drugs, I have never used drugs in my life."
SHE CLARIFIED THE WORDS "LOSER LIVING ON 10 PERCENT"
Zuhal Böcek claimed that the words "loser living on 10 percent" directed at her husband, found in the examination of her phone, were said due to a disagreement over a 10 percent share difference regarding a plot of land they co-owned with her uncles, and that she did not know whether her husband followed the tender processes at the municipality or received around 10 percent shares from contractors doing business with the municipality.
Böcek was informed that "on May 25, 2024, she purchased a duplex apartment, and when examining the listings of apartments for sale in the same neighborhood online, 1+1 apartments are over 5 million 300 thousand lira and 2+1 apartments are over 7.5 million lira," and was asked about the likelihood that the real value of the 4+1 apartment she purchased was 3.5 million lira given its location and size.
"I HAD GIVEN MY GOLD TO GÖKHAN"
Claiming that she bought the apartment directly from the construction company and was told it would cost a maximum of 7 million lira when finished, Böcek continued:
"I paid for it by selling my car. I paid the sale price of my old car for the vehicle I use. My husband Gökhan Böcek covered the rest. I bought this car that way. I sent the money from my account to the seller company. The sales records can be examined. A person I didn't know came to my residence. Gökhan had mentioned earlier that this person would come. When this person came, I took notes of what he said, and later I identified the individual within the scope of the investigation being conducted in Antalya."
Regarding the money sent to her account from a jeweler, Böcek stated: "I had given my saved gold to Gökhan. Gökhan might have cashed in the gold there. My husband Gökhan Böcek was handling the car purchases and sales. O.N. worked as Gökhan's driver. Gökhan might have had the money sent by O.N. transferred to my account."
Stating that they prepared a protocol regarding the divorce process with Gökhan Böcek, and that during this process she asked him to sign a promissory note for 4 million dollars in case of adultery, Zuhal Böcek noted that images related to these promissory notes appeared on her phone.
Zuhal Böcek was also presented with the statement she used in her message exchange with her husband: "Explain the 75 million you laundered for Z. I have screenshots of everything, down to how you transported cocaine with municipal cars. Just you wait."
"GÖKHAN ALWAYS LIED"
In response to the question about this, Böcek answered: "I sent those messages to scare Gökhan. I never saw him transport or use drugs. F.S. is Gökhan's close friend. He was our wedding witness. Gökhan would occasionally use Furkan's credit cards. F.S. was scared because he thought he might be harmed when the operation happened. The messages are about that. I don't know how much Gökhan owed F.S. I didn't ask anything from Gökhan. I don't know the places in Korkuteli and Söğüt that he said he bought. Gökhan always lied. That's why I didn't take him seriously."
Suspect Zuhal Böcek stated the following in her statement:
"There were always rumors regarding Muhittin Böcek's candidacy process that 'he became a candidate with money in Antalya.' I heard that he paid money to become a candidate during his previous mayoral term and also paid money to become a candidate in the last period. However, I have no concrete information or hearsay about these. Gökhan didn't say anything to me about this either. My messages are clear. I told him in messages that I would tell what he did. If I had known about this, I would have told Gökhan in the messages as well. I gave sincere statements and explained the source regarding the vehicles and immovables registered in my name and my relatives' names. I do not accept the charge of laundering proceeds of crime."
WHAT HAPPENED?
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek was arrested in July 2025 within the scope of an investigation carried out on allegations of "bribery" and was suspended from duty by the Ministry of Interior. In the continuation of the process, Böcek's daughter-in-law Zuhal Böcek was also arrested on August 1, 2025, on charges of "laundering proceeds of crime," but was released on December 19. Most recently, on April 30, 2026, a new detention order was issued for Zuhal Böcek within the scope of a separate investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which was claimed to be independent from the operations targeting the municipality.