02.09.2026 17:20
Within the scope of the investigation conducted regarding the allegation that irregularities were committed in building and occupancy permit procedures at the Üsküdar Municipality, involving the crimes of "bribery" and "extortion," the Deputy Mayors of Üsküdar Municipality, Amine Cansu Çelik and Mithat Özdemir, were taken into custody to obtain their statements. The 1st Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Ali Aral, and Deputy Mayor Nihat Doğan were released after their statements were taken by the prosecutor's office.
In the investigation conducted regarding the claim that irregularities were committed in building and occupancy permit procedures at Üsküdar Municipality, constituting the crimes of "bribery" and "extortion," Üsküdar Municipality Deputy Mayors Amine Cansu Çelik and Mithat Özdemir were detained to give their statements. Council 1st Deputy Chairman Ali Aral and Deputy Mayor Nihat Doğan were released after their statements were taken by the prosecutor's office.
DEPUTY MAYORS DETAINED The "irregularity" investigation against Üsküdar Municipality, coordinated by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Financial Crimes Investigation Branch teams of the Istanbul Police Department, continues.
Within the scope of the investigation, Deputy Mayors Amine Cansu Çelik and Mithat Özdemir were detained to give their statements. Council 1st Deputy Chairman Ali Aral and Deputy Mayor Nihat Doğan were released after their statements were taken by the prosecutor's office.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTIGATION Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an investigation had been launched against Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş on charges of "bribery," "extortion," and "establishing or managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," based on reports that Deputy Mayor F.D., Chief Advisor U.M., Private Secretary A.K., Kent AŞ General Manager N.A., and relevant unit managers and personnel acted irregularly in the process of issuing building and occupancy permits, as well as victim statements and the testimonies of some suspects.
It was determined that officials of Kent AŞ, a municipal subsidiary, despite having no authority in the process of issuing building permits, coordinated the building permit issuance process by instructing Üsküdar Municipality personnel through a communication network established via encrypted-closed circuit email, creating color-coded classifications based on block and parcel, using a prepared Excel spreadsheet.
According to MASAK data, it was determined that numerous sham "consultancy service" contracts totaling 1,078,870 lira were signed between Kent AŞ and contractors, and through these contracts, 361,392,264 lira was obtained informally by extortion from contractors seeking building permits within the scope of the activities of the criminal organization for profit within Üsküdar Municipality and its subsidiary Kent AŞ.
MUNICIPAL MAYOR WAS ARRESTED It was determined through HTS, cell tower data, and suspect statements that, when the total construction volume was large, bribes in dollars were collected in cash from contractors under the coordination of Dedetaş's advisor U.M. and Kent AŞ General Manager N.A., and although occupancy permits were issued in return for bribes contrary to regulations, the money was delivered in installments to Dedetaş's advisor U.M. inside the Üsküdar Municipality building.
Following the studies and determinations, 6 suspects, including Dedetaş, were detained in a simultaneous operation conducted at 11 addresses on July 29.
The judgeship ruled to arrest suspects Sinem Dedetaş, Alihan Koçoğlu, Burçin Çevik, and Bülent Orhan Tozkoparan, while Ceyhun Ünlü and Adem Altıntaş were released under judicial control conditions.