23.10.2026 20:40
Emrah Kozay, the New Party Mayor of Çukurova, who was arrested in a tender corruption investigation, has been suspended from duty by a decision of the Ministry of Interior.
Within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations that irregularities were committed in tender and direct procurement procedures carried out at Çukurova Municipality, an operation was conducted on October 19. In the operation carried out by gendarmerie teams against 51 suspects, 44 suspects were taken into custody, including the current mayor Emrah Kozay and former mayor Soner Çetin. With additional arrests, the number of detainees rose to 49.
ARREST DECISION FOR ÇUKUROVA MAYOR
The 49 suspects, whose procedures at the gendarmerie were completed, were referred to the courthouse in the morning hours after a health check. Among the suspects, 34 people, including current mayor Emrah Kozay, his aunt Sıdıka Şire, and former mayor Soner Çetin, were arrested and sent to prison. Judicial control decisions were issued for 15 people.
SUSPENDED FROM DUTY
The Ministry of Interior stated in its announcement that Kozay had been suspended from duty. The statement included the following remarks: Adana Province Çukurova Mayor Emrah Kozay, Upon his arrest in the investigation initiated into allegations that irregularities were committed in various tender, direct procurement, personnel employment, and progress payment procedures carried out within the Çukurova Mayoralty and the municipality-affiliated Çukurova İmar İnşaat İnsan Kaynakları A.Ş., that public resources were used unlawfully, and that the said actions were carried out within an organizational structure formed for the purpose of committing crimes, he has been suspended from duty by the Ministry of Interior as a temporary measure in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of Municipal Law No. 5393.