02.06.2025 16:57
In the fifth wave of the corruption operation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), four more individuals among the 47 names for whom detention orders were issued have been taken into custody, bringing the total number of detainees to 38. The suspects are expected to be brought to court tomorrow.
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In the simultaneous operations conducted within the scope of 4 separate corruption investigations carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; 38 people, including former CHP Member of Parliament Aykut Erdoğdu, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, and Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, were detained.
As part of the operation, teams are continuing their efforts to capture other names who are in hiding. It is expected that those detained will be brought to court tomorrow.
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS?
Some of the allegations include giving jobs to insufficient companies, dumping excavation waste in illegal areas to gain profit, and municipal managers obtaining financial benefits in return for tenders.
THOSE WITH DETENTION ORDERS
Among those with detention orders are; İBB Ağaç A.Ş. General Manager Ali Sukas, Beylikdüzü Deputy Mayor Veysel Erçevik, İBB Deputy Secretary General Erdal Celal Aksoy, ISFALT General Manager Burak Korzay, Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Ozan İş, Avcılar Deputy Mayors Erhan Daka and Mehmet Mandacı, as well as Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Rıza Can Özdemir, and Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Ömer Kazancı.
SEARCHES CONDUCTED
It has been learned that searches were conducted in the buildings of Avcılar, Büyükçekmece, Seyhan, Ceyhan, and Gaziosmanpaşa Municipalities as part of the investigation.
AZIZ İHSAN AKTAŞ INVESTIGATION
In the investigation against the criminal organization allegedly led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, Aktaş, who wanted to benefit from the effective remorse provisions, gave additional statements on April 30 and May 11.
In his statement, Aktaş claimed that the municipalities from which he received tenders, especially Beşiktaş Municipality, made payments for entitlements in return for financial benefits.
Aktaş stated that he had to give money to mayors and their assistants, and buy their properties and vehicles at prices higher than their value, and claimed that he was forced to provide money and vehicles for the election campaigns of mayoral candidates in the 2024 local elections.
After the statement given by Aktaş regarding politicians, mayors, and their assistants who provided financial benefits, the prosecutor's office issued detention orders for 27 suspects, including İBB Deputy Secretary General Erdal Celal Aksoy, ISFALT General Manager Burak Korzay, Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Ozan İş, and Avcılar Deputy Mayor Erhan Daka, on charges of "receiving bribes," "giving bribes," "extortion," and "manipulating tenders."
INVESTIGATION INTO THE BIGÇEKMECE MUNICIPALITY
In the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding Büyükçekmece Municipality, it was determined that the mayor and officials forced construction companies in the district to make so-called donations to the Büyükçekmece Basketball Team, or to sponsor them, during the construction permit and occupancy permit process, and that they did not grant construction and occupancy permits to business owners who did not accept these demands, and that some business owners were forced to accept the demands of municipal officials due to the pressure they were subjected to.
In Büyükçekmece, which is a densely constructed area, it was determined that relatives of the mayor managed excavation works in the district, profiting by dumping excavations in illegal areas, and using their influence, leading to detention orders for 5 suspects, including Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün and Deputy Mayor Ömer Kazancı.
INVESTIGATION INTO CORRUPTION AT İBB
In the corruption investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against suspects, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as İBB President after his arrest, allegations of "being a leader of a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "extortion," "bribery," "qualified fraud," "illegally obtaining personal data," and "manipulating tenders" were made, and it was determined that former CHP member Aykut Erdoğdu facilitated bribery within İSTAÇ.
In the investigation, it was alleged that İBB Ağaç A.Ş. General Manager Ali Sukas requested money and vehicles from individuals and companies doing business, and that he requested money under the name of "commission" upon the instructions of İBB's upper management.
It was claimed that Beylikdüzü Deputy Mayor Veysel Erçevik provided financial benefits in exchange for granting occupancy permits from contractors working in the region.
Following these allegations, detention orders were issued for 3 suspects in the investigation.
INVESTIGATION INTO BEŞİKTAŞ MUNICIPALITY
Upon a tip-off regarding the direct procurement made by the Beşiktaş Municipality's Culture and Social Affairs Directorate for the celebrations of the October 29 Republic Day in 2019, an investigation was initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Within the scope of the investigation, it was alleged that Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Alican Abacı, current Avcılar Deputy Mayor Mehmet Mandacı, who was the Culture and Social Affairs Director at the time, and current Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Rıza Can Özdemir took the job through a front company that did not have the qualifications to take the job and engaged in various irregularities, causing harm to the public.
Based on the findings, detention orders were issued for 9 of the 11 suspects, including Avcılar Deputy Mayor Mehmet Mandacı and Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Rıza Can Özdemir, who are currently detained, on charges of "fraud to the detriment of public institutions" and "forgery in official documents."
Additionally, it was determined that 2 suspects in the investigation were in custody.
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