08.07.2026 10:30
The third hearing of the case where Tanju Özcan, who was removed from the Bolu Mayor's Office, and 18 other defendants are being tried on charges of 'bribery and extortion' has begun in a sports hall. Özcan faces a prison sentence of up to 263 years.
The third hearing of the trial of 19 defendants, including Tanju Özcan, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Bolu, on charges of "bribery and extortion," has begun.
The 178-page indictment, prepared as part of the investigation initiated by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office based on a complaint dated May 24, 2024, from the Ministry of Interior's Inspectorate Board, was accepted by the Bolu 3rd Heavy Penal Court. The defendants face charges of "extortion by coercion," "attempted extortion," "bribery," "qualified fraud," and "violation of Law No. 5072 on Foundations and Associations."
HEARING HELD IN SPORTS HALL
Due to the high 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 third-day session began after the defendants were brought into the hall.
DEFENSES HEARD ON THE SECOND DAY
On the second day of the trial, case-specific defenses were heard from detained defendants including Tanju Özcan, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Bolu, BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız, Bolu Municipality Financial Services Director Naim Ayhan, and Bolu Greengrocers and Fruit Sellers Chamber President and Bolu Köroğlu Credit, Tradesmen and Guarantee Chamber President Mustafa Altındal.
Non-custodial defendants, including CHP Bolu Municipal Council Member Hüseyin Ekrem Serin, CHP Bolu Municipal Council Member Cahit Görüş, CHP Bolu Municipal Council Member Buse Özkan, Bolu Municipality Fire Department Director Mehmet Ağan, and Köroğlu Credit Tradesmen Guarantee Cooperative employee Mertcan Ay, also gave case-specific defenses.
UP TO 263 YEARS IN PRISON SOUGHT FOR TANJU ÖZCAN
In the indictment submitted to the Bolu 3rd Heavy Penal Court, Tanju Özcan's actions against each victim were evaluated separately. Özcan faces a total prison sentence of 90 years and 3 months to 263 years and 6 months for 6 counts of "extortion by coercion," 3 counts of "attempted extortion," 34 counts of "qualified fraud," and 1 count of "bribery."
In the indictment, Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can faces a total prison sentence of 27 years and 6 months to 64 years for 5 counts of "extortion by coercion" and 2 counts of "attempted extortion," while BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız faces a total prison sentence of 72 years, 7 months, and 15 days to 218 years and 9 months for various crimes.
6 DEFENDANTS TRIED IN CUSTODY
Within the scope of the case file, Tanju Özcan, removed from his post as Mayor of Bolu, Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız, Bolu Greengrocers and Fruit Sellers Chamber President and Bolu Köroğlu Credit, Tradesmen and Guarantee Chamber President Mustafa Altındal, Bolu Municipality Financial Services Director Naim Ayhan, and CHP Municipal Council Member Cihan Tutal remain in custody.
It was learned that 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 hearing defendant defenses during the third-day session.