30.03.2026 18:24
In the 12th hearing of the İBB case involving 407 defendants, including the CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the cross-examination of the detained defendant Ceyhun Avşar, the Head of the İBB Rail Systems Department, was conducted. During the hearing, allegations related to the rail system tender were brought up.
The CHP's presidential candidate, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President Ekrem İmamoğlu, is among the 407 defendants in the IMM case, which continues with its 12th session. During the hearing, one of the detained defendants, Rail Systems Department Head Ceyhun Avşar, answered questions from the presiding judge and the public prosecutor.
PROSECUTION'S 'TENDER' QUESTIONS
In the hearing held in the hall opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution by the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court, the cross-examination of IMM Rail Systems Department Head Ceyhun Avşar was conducted.
The public prosecutor asked about the statements of defendants Ertan Yıldız and Adem Soytekin regarding rail system tenders, "In a metro tender, from the very beginning, which company's price offer was discussed, that Fatih Keleş and Ekrem İmamoğlu would receive a 7% share from this tender, and that after the price for the tender was published in the newspapers, it was canceled."
AVŞAR: WHERE IS THE NOTARY DOCUMENT?
Defendant Avşar stated that there was a single sentence that came out of the statements of the two individuals, and used the following expressions:
"We examined the file, where is the notary document? That's why the tender has exploded. Who is this notary, where is he? There are such serious allegations, where are they? There is talk of a report. The date it was recorded is October 21. The date we canceled the tender is October 7. I heard Adem Soytekin's name after March 19, 2025. He is talking about our tender. Someone who doesn't know the job cannot take a 3 billion lira job from us. They cannot take it as a subcontractor. The chief engineer will not allow it. First, you finish a station. We learned about these petitions, about the cancellation, 14 days later. There are jackals and bagmen in this market. There are those trying to take advantage. In the rail system tender to be held in Istanbul, you provide the right projects. You look at the job potential. If 7% is to be given, then why was it canceled?"
WHATSAPP MESSAGES SPARKED DEBATE
Upon the prosecutor's words, "Documents were submitted before the tender. An institution is going out to tender. Its document was submitted to the prosecutor's office. A document has entered the file. Before the tender, an individual comes and makes a report. There are statements from multiple people regarding the cancellation of the tender. There are WhatsApp conversations," defendant Avşar said, "This petition is a petition that no one pays attention to."
OBJECTION FROM LAWYERS
Avşar's lawyer objected to the question, claiming that there was guidance.
The prosecutor asked, "There are certain statements about the actions. You have messages with Ahmet Önal, the Rail Systems Branch Manager on the European Side, regarding the Kirazlı-Halkalı-University Metro Construction Work. In these messages, it says, 'We will take 10% from the company that wins the tender, we are very transparent, if Fatih brother takes 5% from this, it will be enough, 10 will be too much.' Is it true that 5-10% is being requested?"
Avşar, who stated that he also explained this matter in his statement at the police, continued:
"The date this message was sent is March 13, 2024. The tender is dated September 26, 2024. This is a statement that is attempted to be related 6.5 months later. You have the phone in your hand. This conversation is taking place while there is no tender. Fatih Gültekin is someone we have worked with for 15 years. This person is a manager working at Metro Istanbul. Fatih Gültekin is the Deputy General Manager of Metro Istanbul AŞ, an IMM subsidiary. The rail system area is a large market. Fatih Gültekin is someone who develops business outside the operation. Fatih Gültekin wants to increase the business volume by 5-10%. He constantly says to us, 'I want to increase the package of the job I have from this tender, I want to increase the business volume, I want to do engineering.' He keeps bothering us. We joke around. He is a very experienced person in his job. This messaging has nothing to do with the relevant tender. I have been made a material for everything because of these allegations for a year."
After the statement of defendant Avşar's lawyers, the hearing was adjourned.