03.08.2026 17:21
In a new operation within the corruption investigation against Üsküdar Municipality, 6 people, including Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, were detained. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleged that through the municipal affiliate Kent A.Ş., sham consulting contracts exceeding 1 billion liras were signed with contractors, permit processes were managed through an encrypted communication network, and bribes for some major projects were collected in cash in dollars.
The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office conducted a new operation this morning within the scope of its corruption investigation into allegations of irregularities in the building permit and occupancy permit processes at the Uskudar Municipality. In the investigation, it was alleged that front consultancy contracts totaling 1 billion 78 million 870 thousand 833 liras were signed with contractors through the municipal subsidiary Kent Inc., and 361 million 392 thousand 264 liras were collected under these contracts.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleged that building permit processes were directed through an encrypted email system and color-coded Excel tables based on island-parcel data, and that in large projects, bribe money was collected in cash in dollars. In the operation, 6 people, including Mayor Sinem Dedetas, were detained, and numerous digital materials were seized.
INVESTIGATION ON THREE SEPARATE CRIMES
In the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, legal proceedings were initiated against Uskudar Mayor Sinem Dedetas on charges of bribery, extortion, and establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes.
It was stated that the investigation was deepened based on reports, victim statements, and testimonies of suspects benefiting from effective remorse. The transactions of the Deputy Mayor, the mayor's advisor, the Private Secretariat Directorate, Kent Inc. management, and some unit managers and municipal personnel in the permit processes were also taken under review.
ALLEGATION THAT KENT INC. MANAGED PERMIT PROCESSES
According to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office statement, it was determined that employees of Kent Inc., which does not have the authority to issue building permits, directed the permit procedures at the municipality.
It was alleged that Kent Inc. officials communicated through an encrypted and closed-circuit email system, prepared Excel tables classifying islands and parcels with different colors, gave instructions to municipal personnel through these tables, and coordinated the permit processes.
FRONT CONSULTANCY CONTRACT EXCEEDING 1 BILLION LIRAS
According to MASAK data, it was stated that numerous "consultancy service" contracts with a total value of 1 billion 78 million 870 thousand 833 liras were signed between Kent Inc. and contractors.
The Prosecutor's Office assessed that these contracts were of a front nature and were used to collect money from contractors seeking building permits.
It was reported that 361 million 392 thousand 264 liras have been collected to date under these contracts, and the findings that the money was obtained through pressure to grant permits for non-compliant structures were supported by victim statements and reports from the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change.
MINISTRY INSPECTORS DETECTED "EXTORTION"
In the referral report prepared by the Ministry of Interior's provincial inspectors, it was stated that there was an organic bond between the Uskudar Municipality and Kent Inc., beyond being a municipal subsidiary.
The report stated that contractors were forced to sign contracts with Kent Inc. to obtain building permits, and it was determined that unofficial income was generated through this method.
The report also noted that Sinem Dedetas's influence on the delay of procedures, her contribution to creating a perception of pressure on contractors, and her decisive position in the contract system led to her actions being evaluated within the scope of the crime of extortion.
OCCUPANCY PERMIT FEES DETERMINED IN MEETINGS
According to the Prosecutor's Office statement, although the Building Control Directorate was authorized to issue occupancy permits, the processes were decided in meetings chaired by Kent Inc. General Manager N.A.
It was alleged that the amount of benefit to be demanded from contractors was determined in these meetings according to the degree of each construction's non-compliance with legislation, and that a portion of the collected money was distributed to municipal personnel based on their duties and authorities, while another portion was handed over in cash to the Kent Inc. General Manager upon the request of the Private Secretariat Directorate.
DOLLAR ALLEGATION IN LARGE PROJECTS
The Prosecutor's Office alleged that money flow in high-volume projects was conducted in dollars.
According to the allegation, dollars collected in cash from contractors were gathered under the coordination of Mayor Sinem Dedetas's advisor U.M. and Kent Inc. General Manager N.A.
It was stated that occupancy permits contrary to legislation were issued in exchange for bribes, and the money was delivered piece by piece to advisor U.M. in the municipal building. It was claimed that this money flow was determined through HTS records, base station data, and testimonies of suspects benefiting from effective remorse.
"DONATION PROTOCOL" FOR THOSE WHO DON'T PAY CASH
Another notable allegation in the investigation concerned some contractor companies that did not want to make cash payments.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleged that a front donation protocol signed by Sinem Dedetas was arranged for a company that did not want to make cash payments in exchange for an occupancy permit contrary to legislation.
It was stated that under this protocol, the company was assigned some renovation works, and it was assessed that the requested benefit was covered through different methods instead of cash.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION AT 11 ADDRESSES
Based on the evidence obtained, Istanbul Police Department teams, coordinated by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, conducted simultaneous operations at 11 different addresses in Istanbul.
In the operation, Uskudar Mayor Sinem Dedetas, Deputy Mayor Ceyhun Unlu, Private Secretariat Director Alihan Kocoglu, architect Burcin Cevik, project follower Adem Altintas, and contractor Bulent Orhan Tozkoparan were detained.
Numerous digital materials were seized during searches at the suspects' addresses.
The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reported that the corruption investigation into the Uskudar Municipality is being conducted from multiple angles.
WHO IS SINEM DEDETAS?
Born in Eskisehir in 1979, Sinem Dedetas graduated from the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department of the Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Istanbul Technical University.
In her professional career, Dedetas worked in naval architecture engineering in the private sector and later served as the general manager of City Lines Inc., a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. With this role, she became the first female general manager of City Lines.
Dedetas, who was elected as the Uskudar Mayor as the Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate in the March 31, 2024 Local Elections, is married and has one child.