05.08.2026 18:40
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Menderes Deputy Mayor Rüzgar Sönmez, who was sought as a fugitive, was caught in the house where he was hiding by the Provincial Gendarmerie Command JASAT units in an operation supported by MIT and Police Intelligence.
The investigation into bribery, extortion, forgery of official documents, misuse of office, and causing zoning pollution against Izmir's Menderes Municipality continues.
CAUGHT IN AN OPERATION BY MIT, POLICE, AND JASAT
Rüzgar Sönmez, the Deputy Mayor of Menderes, who was sought as a fugitive within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, has also been detained. It was learned that Sönmez was caught by the JASAT units of the Provincial Gendarmerie Command in an operation supported by MIT and Police Intelligence at the house where he was hiding.
INVESTIGATION
In the investigation coordinated by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was determined that building occupancy permits were issued in the Menderes Municipality for the purpose of obtaining benefits, irregularities were committed in matters such as construction permits and zoning plan changes, and the crimes of "bribery," "extortion," "forgery of official documents," "misuse of office," and "causing zoning pollution" were committed in an organized manner.
Following the report of the expert committee, field research, and physical and digital examinations, the prosecutor's office issued arrest warrants for 16 suspects.
Teams from the Provincial Gendarmerie Command's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch Directorate carried out simultaneous operations at designated addresses in the Menderes, Karabağlar, and Konak districts in the morning hours.
In the operation, Menderes Mayor İlkay Çiçek, Deputy Mayor M.T, Municipal Zoning and Urbanization Director İ.Y, Plan and Project Director D.P, Building Control Director Ö.Y, former Plan and Project Acting Director Y.U, former Building Control Acting Director H.Y, municipal council member E.P, municipal staff Ö.C.K. and A.B.Y., along with İ.P, M.P., and A.P., municipal council member F.H, and former Building Control Acting Director S.D. were detained.
It was learned that efforts continued to catch Deputy Mayor R.S., who was not found at his address.
The suspects were taken to the Provincial Gendarmerie Command for their statements.