09.07.2026 11:20
The 4th day session of the trial of Bolu's suspended Mayor Tanju Özcan and 18 defendants, who are being tried on charges of bribery, extortion, and qualified fraud, began at the Bolu Social Sciences High School Sports Hall. Özcan faces up to 263 years in prison.
The fourth-day hearing of the trial in which 19 defendants, including suspended Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, are being prosecuted on charges of "bribery" and "extortion" has begun.
The 178-page indictment, prepared as part of an investigation launched by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office following a complaint dated May 24, 2024, from the Ministry of Interior's Provincial Administration Inspection Board, was accepted by the Bolu 3rd Heavy Penal Court. In the indictment, the defendants face charges including "extortion by coercion," "attempted extortion," "bribery," "aggravated fraud," and "violation of Law No. 5072 on Foundations and Associations."
Due to the large number of defendants and parties, the hearing is being held at the Bolu Social Sciences High School Indoor Sports Hall. Extensive security measures were taken by police around the hall before the hearing. Detailed searches were conducted at the entrances, and the fourth-day session began after the defendants were brought into the hall.
DEFENSES HEARD IN PREVIOUS SESSION
In the previous sessions of the trial, incident-based defenses were heard from detained defendants Tanju Özcan and BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız, as well as non-detained defendants Bolu Deputy Mayor Leyla Beykoz and CHP Municipal Council Member Aydan Özdemir.
Additionally, statements were given by victims and complainants, including contractor Cenk Erşebetçi, Halis Volkan Akıncı, BİM A.Ş. Store Development Manager Saffet Karadağ, Nuhmar and 1N Market General Manager Harun Reşit Kayar, and 21 sacrifice donation victims. It was learned that those who gave statements said they did not complain about the defendants.
UP TO 263 YEARS IN PRISON SOUGHT FOR ÖZCAN
In the indictment submitted to the Bolu 3rd Heavy Penal Court, each of Tanju Özcan's actions against individual victims was evaluated separately. For Özcan, a total prison sentence ranging from 90 years and 3 months to 263 years and 6 months is sought for 6 counts of "extortion by coercion," 3 counts of "attempted extortion," 34 counts of "aggravated fraud," and 1 count of "bribery."
In the indictment, a prison sentence ranging from 27 years and 6 months to 64 years is sought for Bolu Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can on 5 counts of "extortion by coercion" and 2 counts of "attempted extortion." For BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız, a prison sentence ranging from 72 years, 7 months, and 15 days to 218 years and 9 months is sought on various charges.
6 DEFENDANTS IN CUSTODY
Within the scope of the case, suspended Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, Bolu Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız, President of the Bolu Grocers and Greengrocers Chamber and President of the Bolu Köroğlu Credit, Tradesmen and Guarantee Chamber Mustafa Altındal, Bolu Municipality Financial Services Manager Naim Ayhan, and CHP Municipal Council Member Cihan Tutal are being tried in custody. It was stated that Bolu Deputy Mayor Leyla Beykoz and CHP Municipal Council Member Aydan Özdemir, who were arrested on April 10 as part of the investigation, were released by court order on May 11. The court panel is expected to continue taking statements from victims and complainants during the 4th-day session.