The Mayor of Beşiktaş, Rıza Akpolat, has been detained.

In some municipalities in Istanbul, an investigation was initiated after it was determined that the mayors and senior executives of the municipalities organized tender processes by bribing the mayors, ensuring that the tenders were awarded to their own companies. A detention order was issued for 47 suspects, including members of the organized crime group led by 'Aziz İhsan Aktaş'. Among those subject to the detention order are former Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat.

THERE IS A STATEMENT FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

A statement was made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the matter. The statement included; "Based on the evidence obtained during the approximately three-month process initiated after it was determined that the organized crime group led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş organized tender processes by bribing mayors and senior executives of municipalities, ensuring that the tenders were awarded to their own companies;

1-) For the leader of the crime organization, Aziz İhsan Aktaş, and (24) suspects operating within the organization, charges of Establishing and Managing a Criminal Organization, Being a Member of a Criminal Organization, Bribery, Tampering with a Tender, Tampering with the Performance of an Obligation, Violating the Tax Procedure Law, and Money Laundering;

2-) Regarding (12) municipal officials, including former Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, (Based on the testimony of witnesses, collected evidence, and expert reports, it was determined that during the preparation process of the tenders under investigation by the Esenyurt Municipality, an employee of the contractor company, who is also considered a member of the crime organization, met with the tender officials of the Esenyurt Municipality in the municipality building, intervened in the approximate cost and specifications, and accessed documents that should remain confidential to manipulate the tender results as they wished) charges of Tampering with a Tender, Receiving Bribes, and Unjust Enrichment under Article 13 of Law No. 3628 on Declaration of Assets, Bribery, and Combating Corruption were filed against (11) suspects (the suspect Ahmet Özer is currently detained under another investigation for being a member of an armed terrorist organization, thus the detention process has not been executed and will be carried out later),

3-) Regarding Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat and a total of (10) suspects, including the President and members of Beşiktaş Municipality Beltaş Management Industry and Trade Inc.; charges of Membership in a Criminal Organization, Tampering with a Tender, Bribery, and Unjust Enrichment under Article 13 of Law No. 3628 on Declaration of Assets, Bribery, and Combating Corruption;

A total of (47) suspects have been issued simultaneous capture, detention, search, and seizure orders as of 05:00 on January 13, 2025, and the procedures for the execution of these orders are ongoing," the statements said.