16.05.2025 17:44
A summary has been prepared regarding 26 suspects, including Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler. The summary requests a prison sentence of up to 67 years for Köseler, stating that alternating bids were received from interconnected companies, and that contracts were awarded to the same contractors in recent dates with the aim of influencing the bidding process and conducting the tender with specific participants.
"Tampering with a tender" and "establishing, membership, and aiding an organization for the purpose of committing a crime" are the charges under which Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, among 26 suspects, was arrested as part of an investigation. It was noted that 13 suspects are in custody, 3 suspects are wanted with arrest warrants, 9 suspects are under judicial control, and 1 suspect is free. In this case, the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office scrutinized 78 procurement tenders. The detained Deputy Mayor Fidan Gül stated in his testimony that all procurement of goods and services made after the local elections was contrary to procedure, and he indicated that the responsible party was Mayor Alaaddin Köseler.
402-PAGE REPORT
In the 402-page report prepared by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that the investigation into the irregularities alleged to have been committed by some municipal personnel and officials of companies participating in the tender processes regarding certain procurement of goods and services by the Municipality has been completed.
NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS DETECTED IN TENDERS
The report identified numerous violations against the principles of transparency, equal treatment, competition, accuracy, and confidentiality in the tenders. It was noted that alternating bids were received from interconnected companies, and that jobs of the same nature were divided and awarded to the same contractors in close dates while staying below certain legal limits to influence the tender process and conduct it with specific participants.
The report also stated that alternative bids were received from the same companies; it was noted that there were organic ties in terms of address, kinship, and partnership levels between some tender contractor companies and other bidding firms. It was emphasized that the prepared specifications contained conditions that would prevent the participation of other firms and that the contractor would be predetermined, and it was stated that some acceptances of goods and services were carried out on open account before the dates of the tenders.
NO DELIVERY OF GOODS, PAYMENT MADE
The report indicated that some acceptances of goods and services were carried out on open account before the dates of the tenders, and despite the lack of delivery or incomplete delivery according to the municipal stock records, there were tenders for which payments were made.
Irregularities regarding the formation of a price cartel among the companies participating in the tenders through their connections were revealed in the report.
EVERYTHING DOCUMENTED
On the other hand, it was learned that in the investigation conducted by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in coordination with the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the Istanbul Provincial Police Department; the tender files were examined by chief inspectors working at the Ministry of Treasury and Finance; tax audits were conducted by tax inspectors on the companies that won the procurements and those that submitted alternative bids. Additionally, it was reported that the municipality's digital stock records were examined and documented, HTS records related to the phone numbers used by the suspects were obtained, and numerous witness statements were taken.
UP TO 67 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE MAYOR
In the report, it was stated that the detained Mayor Alaattin Köseler, who was suspended from duty, is considered the founder of a corruption organization, while his Chief of Staff Veli Gümüş and Chief of Staff personnel Metin Ülgey are evaluated as managers, and it was requested that 26 suspects be punished for various crimes.
Köseler is facing a request for a prison sentence of 17 years and 6 months to 67 years and 3 months for the crimes of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "tampering with a tender in a chain manner through fraudulent behavior," "qualified fraud in a chain manner," and "forgery in official documents in a chain manner." The report was sent to the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for the initiation of a public case in the heavy criminal court.
THREE INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE
It was also learned that there are currently three ongoing investigations initiated ex officio regarding the Beykoz Municipality by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Initially, in November of last year, the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation with a request for examination from the Ministry of Interior, which was reflected to the public as "concert investigations." It was stated that the Ministry of Interior granted permission for an investigation against the suspects for abuse of office at the request of the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and that the relevant parties appealed to the Council of State against the permission decision, and that the process would be shaped according to the outcome of the appeal.
It is also known that the investigation regarding the bribery allegation against Chief of Staff Veli Gümüş, which has been reflected in the public, is ongoing at the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Recently, it was learned that an evaluation would be made based on the results of the letters sent to the Ministry of Interior and the municipality regarding the allegation that the Beykoz Municipality provided door numbers to illegal structures for profit.