01.07.2025 11:53
As part of the corruption investigation targeting the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, 157 people, including former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer and CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, have been detained. A noteworthy detail regarding the operation has emerged, revealing that the investigation was initiated following a complaint by İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay.
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An operation was carried out in the morning as part of the investigation initiated by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality regarding allegations of "corruption" and "irregularities".
ARREST WARRANT FOR 157 PEOPLE As part of the investigation, 157 people, including former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer and CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, were taken into custody.
CEMİL TUGAY FILED A COMPLAINT It has been learned that the corruption investigation against the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality began with a complaint from the Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay. It is stated that Tugay filed two separate criminal complaints against former mayor Tunç Soyer and his team.
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS? It has been reported that the suspects were taken into custody for "interfering with the tender", "interfering with the performance of the obligation", and "qualified fraud" based on the Court of Accounts Report, the Inspector General's Report, the Environmental and Urban Planning Provincial Directorate's Inspection Report, the Internal Audit Report of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Inspection Board, and expert reports.
Soyer was taken into custody by police officers from the Anti-Terror Branch in the morning. The investigation is being conducted by the Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor responsible for combating terrorism. The allegations are being treated as organized crime. In 2020, an earthquake occurred with its epicenter on the Greek island of Samos, which also affected İzmir.
INVESTIGATION INITIATED AFTER COMPLAINTS After this earthquake, the municipality's company İZBETON was granted urban transformation authority. Work began during the process, but after a while, citizens who filed complaints with the prosecutor's office emerged. In this context, an investigation was initiated by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. A letter was sent to the Ministry of Interior requesting permission for the investigation. Following the received permission, the operation began in the early hours of the morning.
CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu. "CORRUPTION THROUGH İZBETON COMPANIES" The statement made by the prosecutor's office included the following expressions: "Corruption through İzmir Metropolitan Municipality/İzbeton and subcontractor companies has been identified based on the Court of Accounts Report, the Inspector General's Report, and Expert Reports, and within the scope of the investigation conducted under the coordination of the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; operational work was carried out on 01.07.2025, and an arrest warrant was issued for 157 people."
Some of the suspects for whom an arrest warrant has been issued are as follows:
Tunç Soyer (Former Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality)
Şenol Aslanoğlu (CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman)
Barış Karcı (Former Secretary General of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality)
Heval Savaş Kaya (Former General Manager of İZBETON)
Ulaş Aydın (Deputy Secretary General of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality)
Engin Güzel (Deputy Mayor of Buca)
Özgür Ozan Yılmaz (Former Deputy Secretary General of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality)
Çağlar Kalkan (Member of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce Assembly)
Gaffar Karadoğan (Deputy Chief Physician of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Eşrefpaşa Hospital)
Gürkan Erdoğan (General Manager of İZSU)
Mehmet Hanifi Mert Yılmaz (Deputy Mayor of Bayraklı)
Haydar İzgin (Deputy Chairman of CHP Bornova District)
Övünç Özgen (Deputy Secretary General of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality)
Fırat Erkol (Son of CHP Ankara Provincial Chairman Ümit Erkol)
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