05.08.2026 12:40
In the scope of the bribery and misconduct investigation conducted across 9 provinces centered in Ankara, 40 people, including Etimesgut Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu, were arrested. In the case file, where a massive public damage has been documented, from the 680 million lira soup kitchen tender to the Ramadan tent costs inflated tenfold with fake invoices, the statement of a confessing staff member, "We've been here for 5 years, eat as much as you can!" revealed the extent of the scandal.
In the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into tender, zoning, and permit irregularities against the CHP-run Etimesgut Municipality, 40 people, including Etimesgut Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu and municipal administrators, were arrested. The investigation file included striking details, from a 680 million lira meal tender fraud to inflated Ramadan tent costs padded with fake documents.
OPERATION IN 9 PROVINCES: 40 ARRESTS, 14 JUDICIAL CONTROLS
Of the 55 suspects detained in simultaneous operations across 9 provinces centered on Ankara, 40 were arrested and sent to prison on charges of "Establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "Bribery," "Extortion," "Forgery of official documents," and "Misconduct in office." Judicial control measures were imposed on 14 suspects within the scope of the operation.
"FAKE DOCUMENT" FRAUD IN SOUP KITCHEN AND RAMADAN TENT
According to Barış Savaş's report in Sabah; personnel confessions and inspection reports in the investigation file revealed public resource irregularities:
- %1000 Price-Hiked Tent Invoice: According to the information in the file, the Ramadan tent cost, which was around 8-10 million TL in 2024, was raised to approximately 100 million TL in 2025 with fake and inflated invoices. It was alleged that the huge difference was shared among officials through municipal subsidiaries.
- 284 Thousand TL Cash Outflow for a 486 TL Receipt: It was documented that 284,750 TL in cash was withdrawn from the cash register under the guise of "Stamp Duty" for a soup kitchen whose tender had not yet been held, and the original document used as the basis was only a 486 TL meal receipt.
- 680 Million TL Tender Irregularity: It was determined that meal services, which are "service procurement," were shown as "goods procurement" to avoid inspection, work was given to affiliated companies before the tender process was completed, and backdated fake documents were arranged.
MILLION-DOLLAR TRANSFERS TO PERSONAL ACCOUNTS AND MATERIAL CORRUPTION
In examinations reflected in expert and Court of Accounts reports, it was determined that 12 million TL was transferred from the municipal company's cash register to the personal account of a disbursing officer without a tender, and this money was embezzled. Additionally, it was determined that materials used for home care services for disabled and elderly citizens were invoiced at 10 to 15 times their market value:
- Powder-free gloves with a market value of 25 TL were invoiced to the municipality at 247.50 TL,
- Masks costing 18 TL were invoiced at 148.50 TL.
- It was revealed that 10,000 masks, gloves, overshoes, and disinfectants, which were shown as paid for and delivered, were never found in municipal warehouses.
"WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 5 YEARS, EAT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!"
One of the most shocking statements in the investigation file was the testimony of a municipal employee who benefited from effective remorse. The confessing employee told the prosecutor's office that Deputy Mayor T.Ö. instructed his team, "We've been here for 5 years, eat as much as you can!" and that a bribery traffic of hundreds of thousands of lira in cash was managed through tenders.
The judicial process regarding the incident continues in multiple aspects.