09.10.2026 12:16
It was reported that businessman Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, who is alleged to be Ekrem İmamoğlu's "cash box" and for whom an arrest warrant was issued within the scope of the corruption investigation into the İBB, was caught in Greece. In the investigation, which includes allegations of 180 billion liras in illicit profit, the Ministry of Justice has taken action for Gülibrahimoğlu's extradition to Turkey. The file also includes confessional statements regarding money being transported abroad by private jet.
One of the key figures in the 'İmamoğlu Profit-Oriented Criminal Organization' investigation into corruption allegations at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), fugitive businessman Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, was caught in Greece. The Ministry of Justice swiftly launched the extradition process for Gülibrahimoğlu, who is accused of swindling 180 billion liras and has been held under surveillance by Greek authorities since October 2.
DIPLOMATIC MOVE FROM THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
According to a report by journalist Burak Doğan; the Ministry of Justice Directorate General for Foreign Relations and the European Union, acting in line with the decision of the Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court, sent an official letter to the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs and forwarded the extradition file. In the official letter, which stated that there is an arrest warrant for Gülibrahimoğlu on charges of “Membership in an Organization Established for the Purpose of Committing Crimes” and “Concealing the Unlawful Source of Asset Values,” the following statements were included:
“Information has reached our Ministry that Gülibrahimoğlu is in Greece. In this context, I respectfully request that his temporary arrest for a period of 40 days be sought, in accordance with Article 16/4 of the ‘European Convention on Extradition,’ to ensure his extradition to our country, and that the competent Greek authorities be notified that the extradition documents will be transmitted as soon as possible through diplomatic channels and via Interpol after they are translated.”
INFORMANTS: MONEY WAS TRANSPORTED TO LONDON BY PRIVATE JET
The informant statements in the investigation file revealed Gülibrahimoğlu’s overseas traffic and financial network. Informant and former Chairman of the IBB Subsidiaries Commission Ertan Yıldız claimed that Gülibrahimoğlu controlled 70 percent of the excavation dumping works in Istanbul, generated approximately 200 million dollars in annual income, and that most of this money was transferred to London.
The other informant, businessman Sarp Yalçınkaya, stated that Gülibrahimoğlu regularly traveled abroad by private jet between 2022 and 2025, and said: “When I asked Murat with whom and why he was going abroad by private jet, he would tell me, ‘They took money abroad by jet; these flights were generally short and closed flights.’ I understand that the money taken abroad was money from excavation, advertising, and construction businesses.”
WHAT HAPPENED?
As part of the corruption investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) administration and its affiliated subsidiaries, it was alleged that illegal dumping was carried out at the Cebeci Excavation Site, generating a total of 180 billion liras in unjust gains, 120 billion liras of which came from this area.
Within the scope of the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for 8 suspects, including Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, who was alleged to be Ekrem İmamoğlu's ‘money box’ and an organization manager, and all assets of the suspects were seized. It was determined that Gülibrahimoğlu, one of the file's number-one fugitives, fled abroad in March 2025 on his own private jet.