09.01.2026 20:15
The İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appealed the release decision for former mayor Tunç Soyer and former General Manager of İZBETON AŞ, Heval Savaş Kaya, who are in custody in the corruption investigation concerning the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.
The İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has appealed against the release of former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer and former İZBETON AŞ General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya, who are being tried in custody in the "cooperative" case opened as part of the corruption investigation against the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.
PROSECUTOR'S APPEAL AGAINST THE RELEASE DECISION FOR TUNÇ SOYER
In a statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was reminded that a case was opened against 65 defendants for the crime of "using public institutions and organizations as intermediaries, causing public damage, and using cooperative companies as intermediaries within the framework of company activities."
It was noted that during the hearing held on January 5 at the Aliağa Penal Institutions Campus in the İzmir 23rd Heavy Criminal Court, a decision was made for the release of detained defendants Tunç Soyer and Heval Savaş Kaya under judicial control, and that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has appealed against these releases.
INVESTIGATION AND LEGAL PROCESS
The İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation on July 1, 2025, based on allegations of corruption through subcontractor companies at İZBETON AŞ, a subsidiary of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. In this context, an arrest warrant was issued for 157 suspects on charges of "interfering with the tender and performance of the contract" and "qualified fraud," based on the Court of Accounts report, the report of the Ministry of Interior inspector, and expert reports.
It was stated that 22 of the suspects were affiliated with İZBETON AŞ, 2 with the Businessmen Örnekköy Housing Cooperative, 3 with the Business World Housing Cooperative, 2 with the Businessmen Gaziemir Housing Cooperative, 3 with the Business World New Life Housing Cooperative, and 3 with the Aegean Businessmen Housing Cooperative, while the other 122 suspects were municipal personnel, owners, and employees of companies operating in fields such as construction, building, electricity, marble, and sorting.
139 suspects, including former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer and CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, had been captured.
Of the suspects referred to the peace criminal court, 60, including Soyer and Aslanoğlu, were arrested, while 58 suspects were released under judicial control. 20 suspects were released from the police, and one from the prosecutor's office.
For 65 suspects, including Soyer and Aslanoğlu, regarding the allegations of corruption in "cooperative" activities, it was requested in the third indictment prepared that they be sentenced to imprisonment from 3 to 45 years for "qualified fraud by using public institutions and organizations, public professional organizations, political parties, foundations, or associations as tools," "qualified fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations," "qualified fraud by cooperative managers during the commercial activities of merchants or company executives acting on behalf of the company," and attempts to commit these crimes. The indictment was accepted by the İzmir 23rd Heavy Criminal Court.
In the trials, 11 defendants, including former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, former CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, and former İZBETON AŞ General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya, were released. With the release of the last detained defendants, there were no remaining detained suspects in the case.