01.06.2026 20:50
While the police procedures for 53 people, including Mayor Görkem Duman who was detained in the operation against Izmir's Buca Municipality, continue, striking details about the investigation have emerged. It was learned that some contractors bribed municipal personnel to overlook irregularities in construction companies, which was referred to as "soap".
According to the statement made by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a detention decision was made for 62 suspects.
53 PEOPLE DETAINED IN OPERATION AGAINST BUCA MUNICIPALITY A total of 53 suspects, including Buca Mayor Görkem Duman, former Buca Mayor Erhan Kılıç, deputy mayors, former CHP District Chair Ç.K., managers and employees of municipal affiliates, as well as some company owners and contractors, were taken into custody by teams from the Provincial Police Department's Financial Crimes Branch at determined addresses in Izmir, Ankara, Erzincan, and Çanakkale.
It was stated that 3 of the suspects are in prison, arrest warrants have been issued for 4 suspects abroad, and efforts to capture 2 suspects are ongoing.
53 suspects, including Buca Mayor Görkem Duman, were taken to Izmir Katip Çelebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital for health checks. After health checks, the suspects were brought to the Provincial Police Department Yeşilyurt Service Building.
Buca Mayor Görkem Duman "FLOOR AND APARTMENT INCREASES IN EXCHANGE FOR BRIBES" It was stated that the investigation file, covering the municipal administration, zoning units, affiliates, and the contractor circle, includes illegal zoning transactions, floor and apartment increases in exchange for bribes, bribes in the processes of permits and occupancy permits, use of municipal affiliate credit cards for personal expenses, the "ATM officer" system, and direct procurement and tender irregularities.
According to police teams' technical and physical surveillance, CIMER notifications, and witness statements, it was alleged that the suspects used a "project sticking" method to conceal technical irregularities, backdated documents for illegal buildings, and laundered bribe money through construction companies and luxury properties.
It was claimed that in some construction projects to be carried out in the district, the number of floors and apartments was increased contrary to zoning regulations, and the approval processes for problematic projects were expedited by certain officials within the municipality.
In the investigation file, it was alleged that contractors provided money, apartments, or other benefits to municipal officials in exchange for overlooking irregularities, that the capacity for 20 apartments in some projects was increased to much higher numbers through illegal calculations, and the unjust gains obtained through this method were shared with relevant individuals within the municipality.
PAYMENT TRAFFIC NAMED "SOAP" It was alleged that some contractors used special methods among themselves to make payments to municipal officials, gave bribes to municipal staff to ignore irregularities in construction companies' projects, and this payment traffic was referred to as "soap" in some circles, meaning "problem solving/postponement."
It was alleged that credit cards belonging to municipal affiliates were used for personal expenses, cash was withdrawn without justification from company resources, and the accommodation, food, transportation, and vehicle rental expenses of some political organizations were covered through municipal affiliates.
Additionally, through the "ATM personnel" method, within the scope of SGK records and witness statements, individuals who received salaries and payments despite not actually working, as well as municipal and affiliate employees considered responsible for establishing this system, were included in the investigation scope. It was alleged that regular payments were made to individuals who did not actually work using municipal resources, and this practice was maintained within a certain organizational framework.
It was alleged that vehicle rentals, tire purchases, garbage containers, plant purchases, event organizations, and direct procurement processes were also under review, that some tenders were directed to specific companies, purchases were made at exorbitant prices, and benefits were obtained through these transactions.