21.10.2025 17:11
The indictment prepared by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding 14 defendants accused of committing "qualified embezzlement" in the concert expenses of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality for the 2021-2024 period has been accepted by the Ankara 34th High Criminal Court.
The investigation initiated upon the allegation that the concert expenses of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) during the 2021-2024 period caused "public harm" has resulted in an indictment prepared by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, requesting prison sentences ranging from 7 years and 6 months to 31 years and 6 months for 14 suspects, 5 of whom are detained, on charges of "embezzlement." The indictment has been accepted by the Ankara 34th Heavy Penal Court.
INDICTMENT
It was stated that various news sites and social media platforms' claims regarding "irregularities in expenses" related to the concerts organized by ABB between 2021-2024 were accepted as reports, leading to the initiation of an investigation.
The indictment alleges that payments were made that were not in accordance with market prices in the concert and technical service procurements carried out by ABB and the Department of Social Affairs, resulting in public harm. According to the report prepared by inspectors from the Ministry of Interior and the expert report dated September 17, 2025, it was noted that payments exceeding market value were made to contractor firms in the procurement of 32 concert services conducted between 2021-2024, resulting in an unjust benefit totaling 154 million 453 thousand 221 lira.
The indictment requests separate prison sentences of up to 31 years and 6 months for the suspects, including former ABB Culture and Social Affairs Department Head Hacı Ali B, former Deputy Director of Cultural Events Haluk E, former Deputy Head of Culture and Social Affairs Hüseyin Z, and Deputy Director of Cultural Events Celal A, as well as company owners Onur E, Selahattin Ç, Kaan A, and Sıla E, on charges of "qualified embezzlement."
For former Deputy Director of Cultural Events Alp Aykut Ç, Deputy Director of Cultural Events Kurtuluş B, and company owners Arda A, Eren D, Levent E, and Üstün A, a prison sentence of up to 18 years is requested for the charge of "qualified embezzlement."
DIRECT PROCUREMENT FROM A SINGLE COMPANY IS AGAINST THE REGULATIONS
The indictment states that procuring concert and stage setup services directly from a single company based on Article 22/b of the Public Procurement Law No. 4734 is against the regulations, as these services do not have a monopoly nature and there are many organization firms and production companies in the market.
It was expressed that the transactions carried out violate the principles of "competition, transparency, equal treatment, and efficient use of resources" as regulated in Article 5 of the Public Procurement Law, emphasizing that the procurements made are not in accordance with the essence and spirit of the Public Procurement legislation.
The indictment recalls that on September 23, 2025, a warrant for arrest and detention was issued due to sufficient suspicion and evidence against ABB employees and the officials of the firms that won the tenders. According to the records of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), it was reported that the suspects were in contact with each other, and WhatsApp messages related to the concerts were found on the mobile phones seized during the searches conducted in accordance with the decision obtained from the Peace Criminal Court.
A TOTAL OF 154 MILLION 453 THOUSAND LIRA BENEFIT WAS OBTAINED
The indictment states that Hacı Ali B was the expenditure authority of the ABB Department of Social Affairs between 2020-2024, and it was claimed that there was a rapid increase in the number of concerts after the suspect took office in 2020, and that the procurement of 32 concert services subject to the investigation was carried out in violation of the regulations.
It was stated in the indictment that Hacı Ali B awarded 31 of the 32 concert service procurements subject to the investigation to four firms owned by suspects Selahattin Ç and Onur E, providing a total benefit of 154 million 453 thousand 221 lira to these firms under the method of "direct procurement." The statement of the detained former Head of Culture and Social Affairs of ABB, Hacı Ali B, was also included.
Hacı Ali B explained that he reviewed the tender documents for the concerts one by one and met with the firms, arguing that the reason for awarding the majority of the concerts to the companies owned by Selahattin Ç and Onur E was that they carried out these transactions smoothly and properly.
The indictment notes that significant amounts of money transfers were made between the companies owned by Selahattin Ç and Onur E, and according to the MASAK report, it was stated that the funds collected in Onur E's firm were withdrawn from the banking system through checks and suspicious invoices to third parties.
The indictment states that a total of 365 million 576 thousand 155 lira in cash was withdrawn from bank accounts registered in the name of Onur E's firm, and the trace of the money was lost, indicating that the suspects used the institution's funds for the purpose of acquiring goods through procurements made by direct procurement. It was noted that when these actions are evaluated as a whole, they constitute the crime of "qualified embezzlement."
The indictment includes the following findings:
"In the letter dated October 3, 2025, from the Legal Consultancy of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, it was stated that 'After the issue is finalized by a judicial decision and if a damage assessment is made, necessary legal actions will be taken by our administration for the compensation of this damage.' Thus, it has been understood that the damage incurred by the suspects has not been compensated.
From the existing evidence in the entire file, it has been understood that the actions carried out in the form of direct procurement under the name of privileged treatment to firms, regarding the 32 concert service procurements conducted by the Culture and Social Affairs Department of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, resulted in an unjust benefit of 154 million 453 thousand 221.60 lira, which constitutes the crime of qualified embezzlement."
HERE ARE THE NAMED ARTISTS AND THE FEES THEY RECEIVED
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that a public loss of 154 million 453 thousand lira was detected in the investigation regarding the concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) between 2021-2024, involving 32 service procurements.
After the fees paid for the concerts and events were revealed, some artists made statements. Hadise stated that she earned 20 million instead of 94 million at New Year's, Gülşen stated that she earned 8 million instead of 78 million, and Kenan Doğulu stated that he earned 7 million instead of 13.6 million lira. Mor ve Ötesi also stated, "We are following the unfounded allegations with astonishment. The claims that we received the mentioned amount of 71 million TL are absolutely false and extremely fantastical."
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to the investigation of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the report prepared by the Ministry of Interior's Provincial Inspectorship, MASAK examination, Court of Accounts examination, and expert reports revealed that the ABB caused a loss of 154 million 453 thousand 221.60 lira in 32 concert service procurements.
As part of the investigation, on September 23, 14 suspects, including former municipal bureaucrats and company officials, were detained on charges of "abuse of office" and "manipulating tenders."
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After the procedures at the police station, the suspects brought to the Ankara Courthouse gave statements to the public prosecutor conducting the investigation and were then referred to the Peace Criminal Court.
Of the suspects, 5 were arrested by the on-duty peace criminal court for the crimes of "embezzlement" and "interfering with the tender of public institutions or organizations," while 9 suspects were released under judicial control.
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