13.05.2026 01:40
The indictment has been completed in the investigation conducted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the CHP-affiliated Bolu Municipality on charges of 'bribery', 'extortion', 'fraud', and 'violation of the Foundations Law'. In the indictment, which expanded with confessions and includes allegations of pressure on chain markets, license bargaining, forced donations, and irregularities in sacrifice donations, 7 separate crimes were attributed to Mayor Tanju Özcan, who was arrested and subsequently suspended from duty.
The indictment has been completed in the investigation conducted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the CHP-led Bolu Municipality on charges of 'bribery', 'extortion', 'fraud', and 'violation of the Foundations Law'.
SENT TO COURT
The indictment prepared against 19 suspects, including Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan and Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, who were dismissed from their duties after being arrested within the scope of the investigation, was approved by Chief Prosecutor İbrahim Cansever and sent to the Bolu 3rd Heavy Penal Court.
MINISTRIES INCLUDED AS PLAINTIFFS
In the indictment, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the General Directorate of Foundations, and the Ministry of Interior were listed among the 'plaintiff/complainant' institutions. It was stated that the investigation was expanded due to some transactions deemed to have caused public loss.
ÖZCAN FACES 7 SEPARATE CHARGES
In the indictment, Tanju Özcan is accused of 7 separate offenses:
- Extortion by coercion and attempted extortion within the scope of the market incident,
- Extortion by coercion within the scope of the license incident,
- Qualified fraud within the scope of the sacrifice incident,
- Qualified fraud within the scope of the progress payment incident,
- Attempted extortion by coercion within the scope of the concrete incident,
- Bribery within the scope of the cafe incident,
- Violation of Law No. 5072
PRESSURE FOR 'ADVERTISING CONTRACT' ON CHAIN STORES
One of the most striking items of the investigation was the pressure for an 'advertising contract' on chain stores in the city. According to the indictment, chain stores that refused to sign an advertising agreement with Bolu Bel A.Ş. were sealed and banned from trading through extraordinary inspections. Stores that accepted the agreement allegedly continued their operations without issues.
In his statement included in the indictment, Tanju Özcan denied the accusations, defending himself by saying, 'If I were to obtain benefits through coercion, I would not do it with a written offer.' Özcan asked why the stores claiming to be victims did not file a lawsuit and argued that he always openly expressed his requests for assistance.
ALLEGATION OF '2.5 MILLION TL LICENSE BARGAINING'
The claim that a contractor was forced to pay 2.5 million TL for license procedures, being told 'If you are making money in Bolu, you will contribute,' is one of the most serious accusations in the file. The indictment alleged that part of this money was taken in cash and part by check, but was returned after the operation under the label 'advance refund.'
In his statement, Özcan claimed that the accusation stemmed from personal animosity. He stated that he had known the complainant for 30 years but that there could be no interest relationship between them, asserting that the complainant harbored hostility because his daughter was not hired and due to political differences.
845 THOUSAND TL SACRIFICE DONATIONS
The sacrifice donations collected through the 'I Love Bolu Foundation' (BOLSEV) were also included in the indictment. It is alleged that 845 thousand TL collected through social media announcements was not used for sacrificing animals, and the money was kept in the bank, exploiting citizens' religious sentiments. In his statement in the indictment, Özcan said he was unaware of the foundation's sacrifice announcement, stating, 'There was no intent to defraud. The money did not go into anyone's pocket; it remains in the foundation's account.'
THREAT: 'I WON'T LET YOU SET UP A PLANT'
The allegation that a company seeking to supply concrete to a hospital was threatened by Özcan with the words 'You cannot get concrete from elsewhere; I won't let you set up a plant' was included in the indictment as 'attempted extortion.' Özcan, who said he had the company conduct a price survey to avoid losses, stated, 'They asked me for help with negotiation. I said if the price is not suitable, go elsewhere; I never forced them.'
ALLEGATION: 'FORCED TO DONATE 10 MILLION TL'
The indictment claimed that a contractor who won the tender for Cumhuriyet Park was forced to donate 10 million TL to receive progress payments on time, and part of this amount was offset against municipal receivables. Özcan responded to this allegation by recalling the dialogue with the contractor: 'The person who came to me just a few weeks ago saying, 'I have never seen a municipality make payments as regularly as you,' now claims he was forced. This contradicts the normal course of life.'
ALLEGATION OF '100 THOUSAND TL BRIBE FOR CAFE LICENSE'
The indictment alleged that intermediaries were involved in transferring a cafe's license in Bolu, with 100 thousand TL bribe taken through M.A., nicknamed 'Albay Tatü,' and this was captured in audio recordings. In his statement, Özcan completely denied the accusations, emphasizing that license procedures were under the control of the Zoning Directorate and that he had no signature in these processes.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On February 28, an 'extortion' operation was carried out against the Bolu Municipality. Mayor Tanju Özcan, Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, Financial Services Director Naim Ayhan, BolSev Foundation Board President Ali Sarıyıldız, council members H.E.S, B.Ö., and C.G., former Zoning Director H.Y., former Human Resources Director and current Fire Department Director M.A., former Clerk Director T.A., former council member and Bolu Bel AŞ Board President E.T., Zoning Director S.P., and zoning department staff Y.B. were detained.
Tanju Özcan and Süleyman Can were arrested, while the other 11 suspects were released under judicial control. After his arrest, Özcan was suspended from duty by the Ministry of Interior.