27.03.2026 08:31
Turkey started the day with operations carried out in two separate municipalities; while 13 people were detained in Marmaris, 11 people, including Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım, were also detained.
As part of the operation carried out by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department of the Istanbul Police Department, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an operation was conducted regarding Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım on the grounds of "allegations of receiving bribes from individuals and companies."
In the simultaneous operation in Uşak, Kocaeli, and Ankara, 11 people, including Yalım, were detained.
PARTYING AT NIGHT AND CHARGING THE MUNICIPALITY
The following statements were made in the announcement:
"The mayor, his assistants, and senior executives in the municipality went to entertainment venues at night, incurred expenses, and these expenses were paid from the municipal budget under the name of representation/hosting expenses through meal invoices. Considering the possibility that Yalım's illegally obtained assets could be seized during the operation, he transferred all of his registered assets to Cihan Aras, who worked as his driver, within 2025. Yalım hired a person named A.A., with whom he had a romantic relationship, in a high-salary position in the municipality in 2024, but the individual did not actually perform duties in the municipality. Employees who actually worked at Yalım Garden Facilities, which belong to him, were shown as employees working in the municipality, and their insurance premiums were paid through the municipality. Yalım requested 10 vehicles from businessman E.A., but after E.A. communicated that he would not acquire more than 3 vehicles, the shopping mall owned by E.A. was sealed on the grounds that it did not comply with regulations, and a fine of 65 million TL was imposed. Based on the statements of the complainants and confidential witnesses regarding the crimes of "Bribery," "Extortion," and "Interference in Tender," it was determined that there were intense HTS and common base records among the relevant individuals regarding the allegations in the statements of the complainants and witnesses. It was found that there were high-value money movements/assets acquisitions in the suspects' accounts that could not be traced, cash deposit/withdrawal transactions, and high-value swift transfers sent by foreign companies/individuals. There was a discrepancy between the volume and frequency of the financial transactions carried out by the suspects and their financial and professional profiles, and it was determined that the statements of witnesses and complainants were consistent with the obtained technical and financial data."
OPERATION AT MARMARIS MUNICIPALITY: 13 DETENTIONS
In the investigation conducted under the coordination of the Marmaris Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, allegations were investigated that some personnel working at Marmaris Municipality obtained financial benefits by committing irregularities in the new housing and licensing processes of hotels, restaurants, and businesses. It was also claimed that some managers within the municipality profited by directing transactions through personnel they selected.
As part of the operation carried out, a personnel working in the Planning Department was caught red-handed by the police while receiving a bribe of 4,000 dollars during the night. Simultaneous search warrants were issued for the residences, workplaces, and offices of the suspects in Marmaris Municipality.
13 PEOPLE DETAINED ALONG WITH THE DEPUTY MAYOR
Deputy Mayor Ö.H., Planning Director İ.P., engineers V.Ç., T.D., and C.C., Deputy Zoning Director M.K., tradesman T.K., muhtar F.T., contractor M.G., accountant F.K., freelance professional M.Ş., and municipality employees N.C. and H.P. were detained.
Marmaris Mayor Acar Ünlü made statements in front of the municipality building regarding the operation. Ünlü stated, "Our municipality will continue its work with the Mayor of Marmaris and the management. We hope that this investigation will conclude as soon as possible. We thank you all. We will share new information with you when it comes to light."