05.05.2026 08:14
Details are emerging about the 'extortion' investigation that led to the arrest of CHP's Eşme Mayor Yılmaz Tozan. It has been revealed that the investigation was initiated based on tip-off messages sent to the mobile phone of a judge serving at the Eşme Courthouse. The allegations in the messages have drawn attention.
In Uşak, the Mayor of Eşme Municipality, Yılmaz Tozan, and two municipal employees were arrested as part of a "corruption" investigation. The background of the investigation has come to light.
NOTIFICATION TO THE JUDGE'S PHONE
It was learned that the process began with WhatsApp messages sent to the mobile phone of Judge Fehim Muhammet Kıvrak, who works at the Eşme Courthouse, in November and December 2025. The messages, sent from an unidentified line, contained numerous allegations of irregularities within the municipality. Following these notifications, the Uşak Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation.
The messages included:
• Images showing account movements for Murat FİDAN, who works at Eşme Municipality and serves as the Mayor's driver, were sent. It was claimed that municipal payments were made through this individual, and the Mayor's personal expenses were also paid via his accounts.
• Minutes of council decisions regarding changes to the closing hours of venues serving alcohol in Eşme District were sent. It was alleged that money was taken from the owners of these entertainment venues in exchange for extending their closing hours.
• A person named Osman GEDİK built a villa in Eşme District. Since the villa lacked a permit, Eşme Mayor Yılmaz Tozan allegedly demanded 30,000,000.00 TL in exchange for the permit.
• It was claimed that Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım's bribe-taking was captured on camera, and that Eşme Mayor Yılmaz Tozan possessed this recording. He allegedly obtained the footage from a person named Necati Köksal and used it to blackmail Özkan Yalım.
• During a festival held in Eşme District, the fees paid to visiting artists were allegedly inflated, resulting in illicit gains.
• The property located at parcels 1 and 2 of block 1253 in the 3 Eylül neighborhood of Eşme District was allegedly sold through an irregular tender process.
• It was alleged that an attempt was made to acquire a commercial gas station on the property at block 210, parcel 7 in Eşme District, and that a bribe was taken in return.
NOTEWORTHY MONEY FLOW IN DRIVER MURAT FİDAN'S ACCOUNTS
Meanwhile, investigations into the money flow entering driver Murat Fidan's accounts revealed an approximate inflow of 17 million TL between May 2024 and December 2025. The money was reportedly sent under the headings "donation," "festival participation fee," and "sponsorship." While it was alleged that part of these funds were transferred to the accounts of Mayor Yılmaz Tozan and his wife Burcu Tozan, another portion was claimed to have been used for expenditures at a hotel in Northern Cyprus.