16.03.2026 18:20
As part of the investigation into the crimes of "bribery" and "embezzlement" conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 6 suspects, including Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel, have been referred to the court with a request for their arrest.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed the procedures of Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel, Director of Urban Planning and Construction Ahmet Taşkan, Building Control Director Mustafa Burak Gündeş, municipal architect and urban planner Meral Celep, businessman and former Kuşadasıspor Club President Ferdi Zenginoğlu, and businessman Hüseyin Kabasakal, who were detained in the investigation related to "bribery" and "extortion" crimes connected to the Kuşadası Municipality.
REQUEST FOR THE ARREST OF ALL SUSPECTS
The suspects, who were sent to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, were first questioned by the prosecutor's office. After their procedures at the prosecutor's office, suspects Günel, Gündeş, and Taşkan were referred to the duty magistrate court with a request for arrest on the charge of "receiving bribes," while Celep, Zenginoğlu, and Kabasakal were referred on the charge of "participation in bribery."
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
In the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office related to the Kuşadası Municipality, it was determined that "bribery" and "extortion" crimes had been committed as a result of the evaluation of witness and complainant statements, suspect testimonies, information and documents in the investigation file, call records, and reports prepared by MASAK regarding the examined account movements.
Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel, Director of Urban Planning and Construction Ahmet Taşkan, and Building Control Director Mustafa Burak Gündeş, among six suspects, were detained in an operation carried out on March 13 in Aydın, İzmir, and Antalya.