22.05.2026 13:20
The testimony given by İBB and Beşiktaş Municipal Council Member İlker Uluer within the scope of the "organized crimes and bribery" investigation has landed like a bombshell on the political agenda. Uluer claimed that regular money was sent to the CHP Headquarters, and that bribes of 130 thousand dollars were distributed to delegates to vote in favor of Özgür Özel at the CHP congress. The testimony also included the allegation that approximately 500 thousand dollars was sent to the daughter of CHP Deputy Chairman Gökhan Zeybek, who is studying in the USA.
İstanbul Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation into 'organized crimes and bribery' has led to the questioning of İBB and Beşiktaş Municipal Council Member İlker Uluer, who made confessions that will shake the courthouse corridors. Uluer, from whose home 95,000 foreign currency was seized during a search, made shocking allegations about Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, CHP Deputy Chairman Gökhan Zeybek, and senior CHP figures. The statement alleged that at the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress, 130,000 dollars in cash was distributed to delegates to secure votes for Özgür Özel, municipal tenders and job promises were made, and the school expenses of senior party officials' children in the USA were covered with municipal resources.
The interrogation report of Beşiktaş and İBB Council Member İlker Uluer, who was referred to the courthouse yesterday as part of the investigation numbered 2024/236201 conducted by the İstanbul Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau, revealed the spiral of bribery, favoritism, and irregularities in local governments and politics. In the statement personally taken by the Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor, it was detailed how the 'bag politics' in Beşiktaş Municipality and public resources were used to design the CHP congress.
FORTUNE FOUND AT ULUER'S HOME Council Member İlker Uluer, who stated he is an EYT retiree and currently unemployed, had 90,000 US Dollars and 5,000 Euros in cash seized during a judicial search at his home. Despite Uluer claiming the money was family savings and having no income other than his retirement pension, it was noted that he recently purchased a multi-million lira house in Ayvalık and land in Bergama, paying for some of his luxury expenses in 'hand cash'.
'THEY ARE BAGGING IN THE MUNICIPALITY, COLLECTING MONEY FROM SHOPKEEPERS' Uluer openly confessed that financial benefits are demanded from shopkeepers and big brands in Beşiktaş, saying, 'People in Beşiktaş district told me that when they applied to the municipality, they were asked for financial benefits. I heard that Deputy Mayor Ali Rıza Yılmaz received money from Akmerkez Vakko and Etiler Kahve Dünyası. There were rumors that the municipal employees with him were 'bagging'.' He also revealed that all contractor meetings on zoning issues were conducted through specific individuals.
İBB and Beşiktaş Municipal Council Member İlker Uluer '500 THOUSAND DOLLARS SENT TO ZEYBEK'S DAUGHTER' One of the most shocking allegations in the statement was the financial relationship between CHP Deputy Chairman Gökhan Zeybek and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat. Suspect Uluer stated, 'I heard that the expenses of Gökhan Zeybek's daughter studying in America were covered by Rıza Akpolat. They told me they sent nearly 500,000 Dollars to his daughter,' recording a critical claim about where municipal resources were directed. It was also noted that Akpolat covered the construction costs of a beauty expert's luxury clinic in Levent.
'REGULAR MONEY WAS BEING SENT TO CHP HEADQUARTERS' Uluer, also touching on Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat's relations with CHP Headquarters, said, 'I heard that Rıza Akpolat regularly sent money to the headquarters under the name of 'support', but I do not know the source of this money.'
'130 THOUSAND DOLLARS DISTRIBUTED AT THE CONGRESS' Uluer implicitly confirmed that the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress, where Özgür Özel was elected Chairman, was financed by Beşiktaş Municipality, stating that the costs of some party members staying at the luxurious Marriott Hotel in Ankara were paid by the Mayor.
Deciphering the vote bargaining at the congress, the suspect council member described how the delegate will was corrupted with these words: 'To Erzurum Provincial Chairman Safi Karayalçın, tenders were given from Beşiktaş Municipality in exchange for voting for Özgür Özel at the congress. Additionally, I heard that 130,000 USD in cash was given to this person to convince the Erzurum delegates (10 delegates). Similarly, Ümraniye delegate Hayati Kaya was hired at Beşiktaş Municipality in exchange for voting for Özgür Özel. The brother of Çekmeköy District Chairperson Melda Tanışman Tutan was also placed in a job at the municipality in the same way.'
INVESTIGATION DEEPENS At the end of the interrogation, suspect's defense lawyer Av. Yağmur Yüksel requested that her client, who has a fixed residence, be released or subjected to judicial control. However, following the statement at the center of allegations regarding congress bribes, the corruption wheel in the municipality, and unjust enrichment, it is expected that the İstanbul Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office will expand the investigation towards other named party officials.