08.06.2026 08:00
CHP's Buca Mayor Görkem Duman, arrested in a corruption investigation, has been suspended from duty by the Ministry of Interior. While Duman and 42 other suspects were previously arrested, the investigation file included allegations of bribery, embezzlement, irregular zoning procedures, and tender corruption.
The Ministry of Interior announced that Buca Mayor Görkem Duman has been suspended from duty.
In the statement made by the Ministry, it was stated that in the investigation conducted by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Duman was processed on charges of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime, being a member of an organization, bribery, and embezzlement" and was suspended from duty as a temporary measure due to his arrest.
42 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the Buca Municipality and its affiliates, detention orders were previously issued for 62 suspects.
During the operations, many people, including CHP member Buca Mayor Görkem Duman, former Buca Mayor Erhan Kılıç, municipal administrators, affiliate employees, some contractors, and company owners, were taken into custody.
After police and prosecutor procedures, of the suspects referred to the duty magistrate's court, 42 people, including Görkem Duman, former Buca Mayor Erhan Kılıç, and former CHP Buca District Chairman Çağdaş Kaya, were arrested, while 12 people were released under judicial supervision.
THE FILE CONTAINED MANY ALLEGATIONS
The investigation file alleged that there were illegal zoning procedures, increases in floors and apartments in exchange for bribes, irregularities in permit and occupancy certificate processes, use of credit cards belonging to municipal affiliates for personal expenses, the establishment of an "ATM clerk" system, and irregularities in tender processes.
The file also alleged that some contractors bribed municipal officials to ignore irregularities in projects, and this payment traffic was referred to as "soap" in some circles.
WHO IS GÖRKEM DUMAN?
Görkem Duman was born on April 27, 1988, as the child of a three-generation Buca family. He began his education at Meşkure Şamlı Elementary School. He continued his high school education at Betontaş Anatolian High School. Later, during his higher education, he completed Celal Bayar University's Construction Technology Department, Anadolu University's Business Administration Department, and Dokuz Eylül University's Architecture Department. After his education in architecture and urban planning, Görkem Duman opened his own office and ventured into freelance work, undertaking many projects.
Görkem Duman began his political career in the Republican People's Party in 2018. Through his work in the party, he was soon appointed as the Vice President of the Republican People's Party İzmir Provincial Branch. Duman was elected as the Mayor of Buca in the local elections on March 31, 2024.