10.06.2026 12:20
In Bursa, an indictment has been prepared against 63 defendants, including suspended Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, for crimes such as 'establishing an organization for committing crimes, managing and being a member of an organization established for committing crimes, bribery, laundering proceeds of crime, and causing construction pollution.' Bozbey faces up to 402 years in prison.
The 862-page indictment prepared by the Bursa Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and accepted by the Bursa 2nd Heavy Penal Court included the structure and functioning of two separate criminal organizations operating under the "leadership" of Mustafa Bozbey and Turgay Erdem.
In the indictment, it was noted that Mustafa Bozbey, the then Nilüfer District Mayor, established a certain organizational structure, that public power was used to prevent fractures in this structure, thus ensuring unity, that Bozbey laundered the proceeds of crime by actively using family members, and that he gave unlawful instructions to other suspects who were members of the organization.
In the indictment, which stated that organization members whose signatures were on construction permits implemented unlawful orders, it was also included that in the expert reports prepared by the Bursa Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Interior Chief Inspectorate regarding the said projects, it was determined that there were violations of law in both building permits and building usage permits.
In the indictment, it was emphasized that Bozbey gave Turgay Erdem, the then Nilüfer District Deputy Mayor, authority contrary to the procedures and principles referred to as "single signature", that with this authority, licenses for irregular projects were approved in return for bribes obtained from company owners by violating the Zoning Law and regulations, and that under Bozbey's leadership, unfair economic gains were obtained by taking bribes from construction company owners in return for illegal floor area ratio increases.
Determination that shell companies were established for third parties
In the indictment, it was stated that even though there was no title of "coordinator deputy mayor" in municipalities, this authority was given to Erdem and project permits were approved with a "single signature".
In the indictment, which included the determinations that Bozbey stepped outside the hierarchical authority and gave orders contrary to regulations to organization managers and members, obtained significant amounts of unfair profits, and that individuals within the organization were in absolute obedience to the leader due to their positions, it was stated that with Bozbey's orders and suggestions, shell companies were established for third parties within the organization hierarchy.
In the indictment, it was stated that there were property transfers "contrary to the ordinary course of life" to these companies in a way that their source was not clear, that these transfers were shown as commercial activities in an attempt to hide the crimes committed, and that the illegal income obtained within the criminal organization was first tried to be hidden through shell companies and individuals, and then large amounts of money were transferred from the accounts of the shell companies to the defendants who were family members of Bozbey.
In the indictment, it was reported that organization manager Turgay Erdem, upon the instructions of then Mayor Bozbey, demanded real estate as bribes from contractor companies in return for illegal floor area ratio increases, and that there were real estate transfers from the suspects who were contractor company officials to shell companies; although these transfers were shown as sales, it was pointed out in the MASAK report that no account movements were found in the title deed transfers.
In the indictment, it was noted that the architectural drawings of the said construction projects were made by "TIBA Architecture" upon the orders and suggestions of the "organization leader" in violation of procedures, that the said architecture firm belonged to defendant İldam Aydın Bozbey, that fees higher than the market value were charged for the construction permit projects drawn there, attempting to hide the financial benefit related to the bribe and laundering the crime proceeds.
Additionally, the indictment included the determination that organization manager Turgay Erdem had previously been a partner in this firm, and that it was understood that the "Mustafa Bozbey criminal organization's" actions regarding laundering crime proceeds continued after 2019.
In the indictment, it was emphasized that Mustafa Bozbey established a criminal organization to obtain economic gain, appointed the then Nilüfer District Deputy Mayor Erdem in violation of procedures and law, and that he made this authorization and created the position in order to hide himself and prevent his capture.
In the indictment, which included determinations that some companies were used as "shell" companies, it was stated that Mustafa Bozbey was seen working as a salesperson and consultant at Seres Gayrimenkul Yatırım AŞ in 2021, that there were intense money transfers between Bozbey's wife Seden Bozbey and the company named SERES Gayrimenkul under the name "Fide AŞ Debt", and that the chairman of the board of Fide Eğitim Kurumları AŞ was Seden Bozbey.
In the indictment, which included determinations that money was sent to the foundation named NİLVAK, which Mustafa Bozbey founded in 1999 and in which family members were also involved in management, it was noted that as of the date the money was sent, Mustafa Bozbey was the Nilüfer District Mayor and his wife Seden Bozbey was the chairman of the board of NİLVAK.
Determination that Turgay Erdem delivered bribes in person and distributed them among organization members
In the indictment, it was stated that Turgay Erdem also established a certain organizational structure, that public power was used to prevent fractures in this structure, thus ensuring unity and preventing defections from the organizational structure.
In the indictment, it was stated that Erdem directed company owners who wanted to meet with him regarding building permits to organization managers Ayşegül E. and Tamer I., and that Erdem distributed the bribes he received in person among organization managers and members, and that the cash money flow was mainly provided through him.
In the indictment, it was stated that Mustafa Bozbey established an organization to commit crimes and received bribes from the defendants who were contractor company owners in 30 cases in return for illegal floor area ratio increases and illegal building usage permits.
In the indictment, it was stated that in return for a bribe taken from defendant Emin A., a workplace was rented irregularly through the public subsidiary company named NİLBEL, and the expert report determined public loss and irregularity, and that Bozbey directed the other suspects who were organization members with his orders and instructions in carrying out these actions, and also committed the crime of "causing zoning pollution".
It was also stated that Bozbey, by creating the title of "coordinator deputy mayor" contrary to legislation since 2009, gathered the authorities that must be personally used by the Zoning and Urbanization Directorate officials and that cannot be delegated, under the then District Deputy Mayor Turgay Erdem, thus committing the crime of "unlawful assumption of public duty".
In the indictment, Mustafa Bozbey was requested to be sentenced to up to 402 years in prison for the crimes of "establishing and managing an organization to commit crimes", "taking bribes", "causing zoning pollution", and "unlawful assumption of public duty".
In the indictment, where Turgay Erdem is sought to be sentenced to up to 946 years in prison, it was requested that the other 61 defendants be sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment.
Operation process
As part of the investigation conducted by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, on March 31, following the determination that former mayors Mustafa Bozbey and Turgay Erdem, along with some municipal employees in the Nilüfer district, had made irregular zoning right increases in exchange for bribes in construction projects, thereby providing financial benefits to themselves and project owners, 57 suspects were taken into custody, including Mustafa Bozbey, his wife S. Bozbey, his daughter S. G., his siblings R. Bozbey and E. Bozbey, some municipal employees, and numerous businesspeople alleged to have paid bribes.
One of the suspects referred to the courthouse was released after the prosecutor's questioning. Subsequently, out of the 56 suspects referred to the criminal judgeship of peace, 23 suspects, including Bozbey, were arrested on April 4.
In addition to these individuals, it was decided to arrest 7 suspects, including former Nilüfer Mayor Turgay Erdem, who was arrested on October 14, 2025, for crimes such as bribery, forming a criminal organization, and laundering assets derived from crime, under this file as well.
In the later stages of the investigation, the total number of detainees rose to 37, and it was learned that efforts to capture suspects Ş. G. and T. K., who were abroad, were ongoing.