03.11.2026 16:50
Witness İlker Aydın, who testified in the corruption case against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İMM), claimed that the $10 million requested for the occupancy approval of the Rotana Residences project in Şişli was reduced to $4 million after Süleyman Atik intervened. The indictment alleged that the $4 million in question was requested by suspended Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan and that the occupancy permit was obtained after the money was delivered to Atik.
Hearing of secret witnesses and complainants continues in the corruption case against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM). Witnesses who testified at the hearing said that money was demanded for occupancy permits and license procedures.
PRISON SENTENCE OF UP TO 2,352 YEARS SOUGHT
The investigation into Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as IMM Mayor and arrested, was completed and a 3,809-page indictment was prepared on November 11, 2025. In the indictment, it was alleged that İmamoğlu, shown as the “organization leader,” committed numerous crimes, including “establishing an organization to commit crime,” “bribery,” “money laundering,” “corruption,” and “rigging a tender.” A prison sentence of 828 years 2 months to 2,352 years is sought for İmamoğlu for 142 acts.
“HE CONVEYED THAT THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR 5 MILLION DOLLARS”
Witness İlker Aydın, Deputy General Manager Responsible for Investments at Abdi İbrahim company, testified regarding the Rotana Residence project in Şişli. The indictment had alleged that the victims who built the project were forced to pay money in exchange for an occupancy permit.
Aydın, describing that company owner Nezih Barut and Münir Özkök established a joint company for the project, said:
“The project consisted of 3 blocks. When 2 blocks were completed, Yusuf Arslan told me that an application had been made to the municipality for the official process, but the official process was not progressing, and that there was a demand for 5 million dollars for it to progress. He said this was conveyed to Mr. Münir, and Mr. Münir asked for the matter to be conveyed to Nezih Barut. I also relayed the matter to Nezih Barut. Upon this, Mr. Nezih called Timur Soysal for a meeting.”
“HE SAID HE WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR”
Aydın stated that Barut found this demand unjust and did not accept it, and recounted that Altan Ertürk, former consultant to Şişli Municipality, later wanted to meet with Barut. Aydın said:
“At the meeting held, Altan Ertürk said he was speaking on behalf of the mayor and that it was mandatory to pay 3.5 million dollars for the first two blocks. From what I understood, Mr. Nezih’s resistance was broken. After that, I know that the partners withdrew exactly this amount, an amount equivalent to 3.5 million dollars, from the company. But I did not witness with my own eyes what happened after that in the process.”
CLAIM OF 10 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE THIRD BLOCK
Aydın, claiming that a similar process was experienced when the third block of the project was completed, alleged that 10 million dollars were requested for municipal approval. Aydın recounted that Barut then reached Süleyman Atik, and said Atik was able to reduce this figure to 4 million dollars. Aydın claimed that 1 million dollars of this amount was requested for lighting in Nişantaşı, and 3 million dollars in cash. Aydın said, “I did not see the delivery of the money either, but Süleyman Atik received it. I do not know to whom he delivered it.”
The indictment had also alleged that the victims received the occupancy permit after delivering to defendant Süleyman Atik the 4 million dollars requested by Resul Emrah Şahan in order to obtain the permit.
5 MILLION DOLLARS UNDER THE NAME OF EARTHQUAKE AID
Another witness, Metin Karakoç, an employee of Torunlar İnşaat, recounted that IMM Survey Engineer Yakup Öner asked Mehmet Torun for a donation, that Torun accepted this donation, and that the payment was made after the council decision. Karakoç said that during the earthquake period, Öner asked him for a donation of 5 million dollars as food aid. Stating that company management did not accept this demand on the grounds that they had made large donations to AFAD and the Turkish Red Crescent, Karakoç said, “For that reason, I conveyed it to him, and he thanked me.”
CLAIM OF A 3 MILLION DOLLAR DEMAND IN BAKIRKÖY
Witness İsmail Serdar İplikçioğlu, lawyer for the operating company of Capacity AVM, alleged that a bribe was requested for the shopping mall’s license procedures and that, after the demand was not accepted, a monetary fine was imposed on the mall. İplikçioğlu, recounting that he met with Bakırköy Deputy Mayor Ali Rıza Akyüz in his office at the municipality, said:
“Ali Rıza Akyüz said that under normal conditions 5 million dollars was requested, but that it was reduced to 3 million dollars for us. When we asked how he determined this amount, he said, ‘We are a committee, we decided this way.’ We also said that we did not accept this demand. Because the payment method was not requested as an official payment; he asked for payment in hand.”
BOXES FULL OF MARKET CARDS
Another witness heard at the hearing, Hüseyin Kiriş, said that he worked as a valet at the Uskumru restaurant operated by Seyfettin Taştan. Kiriş recounted that Taştan left him two boxes containing market cards, and that he delivered these boxes to two people who said they had come from the IMM.