27.01.2026 16:08
In the first hearing of the case against the "Aziz İhsan Aktaş criminal organization," which involves 200 defendants, including 7 mayors from the CHP, the mayors disclosed their monthly incomes. Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar stated that his monthly income is 360,000 TL, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin reported 150,000 TL, while former Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat said he has no monthly income.
The case of the "Aziz İhsan Aktaş criminal organization," which is alleged to have organized tender processes by bribing mayors and led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, has begun. In the hearing, 200 defendants, including 33 detained individuals, among whom are 7 mayors who have been suspended from their duties, are being tried.
In the hearing held in the hall opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution by the Istanbul 1st Heavy Penal Court, some detained defendants, including Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, along with their lawyers, were present.
From left to right: Rıza Akpolat, Abdurrahman Tutdere, Zeydan Karalar, Kadir Aydar, Oya Tekin, Ahmet Özer, Utku Caner Çaykara In the hearing attended by some of the defendants who are not in custody, including Ahmet Özer, who was suspended from the Esenyurt Municipality, CHP Deputy Chairpersons Gül Çiftçi, Burhanettin Bulut, Sevgi Kılıç, CHP Ankara MP Umut Akdoğan, CHP Erzincan MP Mustafa Sarıgül, CHP MP Fethi Açıkel, CHP Şanlıurfa MP Mahmut Tanal, CHP PM member Tolga Sağ, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, and TBB Vice President Vahap Şener, along with party officials, party members, and relatives of the defendants, were present as spectators.
HEARINGS WILL BE HELD 5 DAYS A WEEK In the hearing that started at 11:40, the presiding judge stated that if there were any cheers, the trial would continue without spectators, and it was planned for the hearings to be held 5 days a week. It was concluded that, in order to ensure the integrity of the defense and the prosecution, it would be healthier to take the defenses of the detained defendants based on their institutions first.
"I DID NOT FLEE, I AM HERE" Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who is mentioned as the 'organization leader' in the indictment, arrived at the hearing with a security detail. Responding to journalists' questions at the entrance of the courtroom, Aktaş said, "Justice is the foundation of property. Today, as I said on the first day of justice, I will repeat what I have to say. I did not flee, I am here."
"WE ENTERED THE HALL UNDER POLICE ESCORT DUE TO AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT" Lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz, who was given the floor to convey the requests of the presiding judge, reminded that only one family member of the detained defendants could be admitted to the courtroom, questioning how Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who is being tried as the 'organization leader,' was able to enter the hall with a large security team. In response, the presiding judge stated that their responsibilities were limited to the courtroom, while Aktaş's lawyer said, "We did not enter with a security detail. We entered the hall under police escort due to an assassination attempt against my client."
REQUEST TO SEPARATE FILES FROM DEFENSE LAWYERS REJECTED The defense lawyers requested the separation of the files related to the mayors of Adana, Adıyaman, and Esenyurt. However, Aziz İhsan Aktaş's lawyer requested the rejection of the separation requests, stating, "This file is one of the most comprehensive corruption files in Turkey. Separating the file would make it impossible for contractors to operate." The court panel adjourned the hearing for 1 hour. The hearing resumed at 14:30. The court decided to reject the requests and began the identification of the defendants.
MAYORS DISCLOSED THEIR MONTHLY INCOMES During the identification of the detained defendants, the mayors were asked about their monthly incomes. The responses given by the mayors were as follows:
Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar: 100,000 TL, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin: 150,000 TL, Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar: 360,000 TL, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara: 130,000 TL. Former Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat stated that he currently has no monthly income as all his assets have been seized. FROM THE INDICTMENT In the prepared indictment, it was requested that the non-detained defendant Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who is mentioned as the 'organization leader,' be sentenced to up to 704 years in prison. In the indictment, it was requested that former Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat be sentenced to up to 415 years in prison for 8 separate crimes, primarily 'manipulating the tender' and 'receiving bribes.' It was requested that detained Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara be sentenced to up to 18 years, detained Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar to up to 12 years, detained Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin to up to 12 years, and detained Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar to up to 12 years in prison. For the non-detained defendant Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, a prison sentence of up to 12 years was requested for the charge of 'receiving bribes.' It was requested that Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer be sentenced to up to 9 years in prison. After the acceptance of the indictment against Ahmet Özer, a release decision was made.
The 5 detained mayors are as follows:
Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, who has been reinstated to his duties, and Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who has been suspended, are being tried without detention.