He defended the bribe in the baklava box like this: I accepted it because it came to me as a surprise.

10.10.2025 15:22

In the indictment of the bribery and corruption investigation against the Manavgat Municipality, it was stated that Deputy Mayor Mehmet Engin Tüter was caught red-handed receiving a bribe of 110,000 euros from businessman Cengiz Coşar in a baklava box. In his statement, Tüter said, "There was whiskey and a baklava box inside the package. He said there was money inside. At that moment, I accepted the money because I was caught off guard."

The indictment prepared regarding the investigation into the 'criminal organization', 'corruption', 'bribery', and 'extortion' related to the Manavgat Municipality included details of the incident where Deputy Mayor Mehmet Engin Tüter was caught red-handed receiving a bribe of 110,000 euros from businessman Cengiz Coşar in a baklava box.

After a tip-off in April, the Manavgat Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the Mayor of Manavgat, Niyazi Nefi Kara, deputy mayors, municipal council members, municipal employees, and some businessmen for 'corruption' and 'bribery'. During the technical and physical surveillance conducted as part of the investigation, Deputy Mayor Engin Tüter was caught red-handed by police teams while receiving a bribe of 110,000 euros in a baklava box in his office. Along with Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara, 41 suspects, including deputy mayors, municipal council members, municipal employees, and businessmen, were detained. 18 of the suspects were arrested, 16 were released under judicial control, and 7 were released after their statements to the prosecutor's office. With the release of some suspects during the investigation process, the number of detainees decreased to 11.

"OKAY, YOU START, THEN WE'LL SEE"

In the indictment prepared by the Manavgat Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and accepted by the Manavgat 3rd Heavy Criminal Court, businessman Zafer Süral testified as a 'complainant'. He stated that Cengiz Coşar had been doing construction work for many years, that the housing construction work was given to Mehmet Ali Fansa under pressure from the municipality, that Coşar was upset about this situation, and that later, Deputy Mayor Mehmet Engin Tüter and Niyazi Nefi Kara's nephew, Hüseyin Cem Gül, called him to the construction site. In his statement, Zafer Süral noted:

"When I arrived, they were in the vehicle. I got into their car. They told me that I could give the job to Cengiz Coşar. In their negotiations with Cengiz Coşar, they asked for 30% of the total gross profit. Cengiz Coşar said he couldn't give that much, that he could give 5% or 10%. They said, 'Okay, you start, then we'll see.' In this way, I agreed with Cengiz Coşar for the fine craftsmanship and ceramic work at 5% more than the cheapest offer I had. Cengiz was supposed to give the extra money he received from me to Engin Tüter and Hüseyin Cem."

"THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GIVE 30% IN CASH"

Cengiz Coşar, in his statement to the prosecutor's office, indicated that after this meeting, he met with Hüseyin Cem Gül and Mehmet Engin Tüter, stating, "They told me that the job was mine, but that I had to give 30% of the total gross profit in cash to the municipality because of this job. I told them that I earned a maximum of 10% and that I couldn't give them 30% of this money. Engin Tüter told me, 'You finish the job, we'll see after that.' We talked like this and left from there," he said.

"HOW MUCH IS THERE?" HE ASKED

In the indictment, it was recorded that after Zafer Süral and Cengiz Coşar filed a criminal complaint, on July 4, Cengiz Coşar went to the municipality, entered Mehmet Engin Tüter's office, and placed a black cardboard bag containing a baklava box and whiskey at Tüter's feet, which contained 110,000 euros. Cengiz Coşar told Tüter, "There is something here, brother, under it, there is a commission from Zafer," to which Tüter asked, "How much is there?" and received the answer, "There is 110,000 euros," after which he told Coşar, "Okay, don't say anything to anyone."

"I ACCEPTED THE MONEY BECAUSE I WAS IN A WEAK POSITION"

The indictment also included the statement taken from Mehmet Engin Tüter regarding the incident. Tüter stated that Cengiz Coşar communicated to him that he was upset about the housing construction work being given to someone else, and in response, he said he would advocate for the job to be given to Coşar. Tüter noted in his statement:

"The first offer regarding the commission came from Cengiz Coşar. There was no agreement on the rate there. I told him that I would inform Zafer Süral and that I would advocate for the job to be given to him. I went with Hüseyin Cem Gül to Zafer Süral. I advocated for the fine craftsmanship part of the job to be given to Cengiz Coşar. He later gave the job to Cengiz Coşar. On the same day, I went to meet with Cengiz Coşar with Hüseyin Cem Gül. I told Cengiz Coşar that normally 20% of the money earned is given, but he could give whatever he wanted. I even said, 'You don't have to give anything.' I left from there. About 3-4 months after the construction was completed, he called me. He said the money was ready. I said, 'No need.' About 10 days ago, he came to my office. He offered to give me the money. I said, 'Don't rush.' I brushed him off. On July 4, 2025, he came to the municipality and gave me a package. The package contained whiskey and a baklava box. He said there was money inside. At that moment, I accepted the money because I was in a weak position. After he left, I became suspicious of the situation and thought I was being set up. I went out into the corridor to return it immediately after he left, but he had already left. Shortly after, police teams conducted a raid."

NIYAZI NEFİ KARA: IT IS NOT WITH MY KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL

In the statement of Manavgat Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara included in the indictment, he said, "I do not know Cengiz Coşar. I am not aware of the fact that Cengiz Coşar was directed to Zafer Süral by Hüseyin Cem Gül and Deputy Mayor Mehmet Engin Tüter and that they requested a certain portion of the money earned from the construction to be given as a commission. I learned about this incident after Mehmet Engin Tüter was caught red-handed receiving 110,000 euros from Cengiz Coşar. This incident is definitely not within my knowledge and approval. I have absolutely no participation in the actions committed by Mehmet Engin Tüter."

"STATEMENT AIMED AT AVOIDING CRIME"

In the indictment of the Manavgat Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the following statements were made regarding the incident: "Although Mehmet Engin Tüter stated in his testimony that he accepted the money but regretted receiving it after Cengiz Coşar left the room and that he went out into the corridor after Cengiz Coşar, this matter does not affect the establishment of the crime, and the suspect's statement aimed at avoiding the crime is not taken into account. It has been established that Mehmet Engin Tüter and Hüseyin Cem Gül jointly committed the crime of 'extortion by coercion' against the complainant. Although the direct participation of the organization founder Niyazi Nefi Kara and organization leaders Bulem Şahbaz and Sıla Ceyhan Berkaya in the concrete incident could not be determined, they are held responsible as perpetrators of the alleged 'extortion' crime committed within the framework of the organization's activities. Hüseyin Cem Gül, who does not hold an official position in the Manavgat Municipality, does not have the status of a public official, and therefore he will be held responsible for the 'extortion' crime, which can only be committed by public officials.