26.05.2026 15:31
After the arrest of Güzelbahçe Mayor Mustafa Günay in the operation against the municipality, his 2.5 million euro luxury yacht purchased two years ago has come back into focus. Günay, who frequently drew criticism for his love of luxury, responded to the accusations by saying, "I can ride in a Maybach, I can ride in an airplane. What's it to you?" It has been revealed that the luxury Mercedes Maybach Vito-type vehicle he mentioned was given to him in exchange for a bribe.
New allegations have emerged regarding Mustafa Günay, the Mayor of Güzelbahçe, who was detained at dawn along with his wife as part of an investigation into the Güzelbahçe Municipality in Izmir. In witness statements included in the case file, where 5 people including the former mayor were detained and arrest warrants were issued for 2 others, striking claims have surfaced concerning zoning and permit processes within the municipality.
Witness S.K. stated that between 2022 and 2025, he handled construction monitoring and real estate matters for a person named Sinan Karahan, alleging that illegal constructions were organized through certain individuals in the municipality.
“MAYBACH VITO GIVEN AS A BRIBE”
One of the most notable parts of the investigation file is the luxury vehicle claim. Witness S.K. alleged that an individual linked to a company called “Bambu Bahçe Mobilyaları” gave the mayor a Mercedes Maybach Vito type vehicle.
According to the witness statement, it was claimed that the vehicle was given in exchange for turning a blind eye to large illegal constructions. S.K. also stated that relevant individuals could provide information to the prosecutor's office on this matter.
LUXURY YACHT WORTH MILLIONS OF EUROS HAD DRAWN REACTION
Güzelbahçe Mayor Mustafa Günay had previously made headlines with his luxury Maybach official vehicle and his yacht worth millions of euros. It was revealed that Günay purchased a yacht worth approximately 2.5 million euros in 2024, and when a journalist questioned him about it, he allegedly replied, “I ride in a Maybach, and I ride in a plane. What's it to you? Don't call me again.” These remarks by Günay were widely debated in public and his luxury spending drew criticism.
According to a witness statement included in the ongoing investigation, it was alleged that Günay's criticized official Mercedes Maybach, the luxury series vehicle, was also given to him as a bribe.
CLAIM: “THEY OBTAINED PERMITS WITH FAKE PHOTOS”
The witness statement also included other striking claims regarding building permit processes. According to S.K., projects were first presented as compliant with regulations, then photos of previously constructed buildings were uploaded to the system as if they belonged to new projects, and ministry approval was obtained.
The witness alleged that the municipality issued occupancy permits based on these approval numbers, and later, the structures were dismantled and enlarged to create non-compliant usage areas.
“COURIERS CARRIED THE FILES”
The file also included accounts of permit and occupancy processes conducted through intermediaries called "handlers." Witness S.K. claimed that files from contractors were delivered to relevant individuals in the municipality, and the requested payments were collected through these people.
The names Mirya İnşaat and Günay Grup also stood out in the statement.
VELİ AĞBABA DETAIL IN THE FILE
The name of CHP Deputy Chairman and Malatya MP Veli Ağbaba also appeared in witness S.K.'s statement. S.K. stated they had no concrete information that Ağbaba directly took bribes, but said that he and Güzelbahçe Mayor Mustafa Günay supported each other.
The witness statement said, “We have no concrete or realistic information that Veli Ağbaba took bribes from here.”
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES MULTI-FACETED
The witness statement also included the names of Güzelbahçe Mayor Mustafa Günay, Zoning Director Özgür Bayraktar, municipal council member Gizem Göçtü, and Şamil Göçtü as part of the investigation.
Additionally, companies named Y. İnşaat, F. İnşaat, E. İnşaat, and G. Grup were mentioned in the file. It was learned that the prosecutor's office is continuing the investigation in multiple directions.
The individuals for whom arrest warrants were issued within the scope of the investigation are as follows:
- Mustafa GÜNAY (İzmir Güzelbahçe Mayor) - Detained
- Nermin GÜNAY (Mayor's wife) - Detained
- Özdem Mustafa İNCE (Former Güzelbahçe Mayor) - Detained
- Özgür BAYRAKTAR (Zoning and Urbanization Director) - Detained
- Sezgin KUŞ (Municipal Police Director) - Detained
- Gizem GÖÇTÜ (Municipal Council Member) - Arrest warrant issued
- Şamil GÖÇTÜ (MİRYA Group Official) - Arrest warrant issued