14.10.2025 00:24
In the investigation concerning İZBETON, a subsidiary of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, the prosecutor presented their opinion during the second hearing of the case regarding the allegations of irregularities in the cooperatives. In the opinion, it was requested that the detention of five individuals, including the former mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Tunç Soyer, be continued.
The second hearing of the case opened regarding the allegations of irregularities in cooperatives in the investigation against İzmir Metropolitan Municipality's subsidiary İZBETON was held, where the prosecutor presented their opinion. In the opinion, it was requested that the detention of 5 of the 6 detained defendants continue, while the release of 1 defendant was requested.
A large-scale investigation was launched on July 1 by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office based on allegations of corruption through subcontractor companies at İZBETON AŞ, one of the subsidiaries of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality (İZBB). Within the scope of the comprehensive investigation, which was based on reports from the Court of Accounts, the Ministry of Interior inspectors, and expert reports, detention orders were issued for 157 individuals on charges of "manipulating the tender" and "qualified fraud."
TUNÇ SOYER HAD BEEN ARRESTED
Among those detained in the investigation were 139 suspects, including the then İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer and the İzmir Provincial Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Şenol Aslanoğlu. After their procedures at the police station, 60 of the suspects, including Soyer and Aslanoğlu, were arrested by the court they were brought to. While 58 individuals were released under judicial control, the remaining suspects were released without any measures being applied.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 45 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR 65 PEOPLE INCLUDING SOYER
The indictment prepared within the scope of the investigation into urban transformation projects carried out in different districts of İzmir was submitted to the İzmir Heavy Penal Court. The indictment included allegations of irregularities in construction works in exchange for shares in Örnekköy 3rd and 4th phases, Gaziemir-Aktepe-Emrez Neighborhood 1st phase, and Karabağlar 3rd and 4th phases. It was stated that 449 victims, along with 7 complainants, as well as the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Ministry of Interior, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, and İZBETON AŞ were among those harmed by the crime. A total of 65 suspects, including former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer and CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, were requested to receive prison sentences ranging from 3 years to 45 years each.
RELEASE OF 5 INDIVIDUALS
Last month, 11 detained defendants, including Soyer, Kaya, and Aslanoğlu, began to be tried at the İzmir Courthouse's 23rd Heavy Penal Court. After a 3-day hearing held at the Aliağa Penal Institutions Campus, İZBETON Board Member Levent İşler, İZBETON Board Member Sevcan Tınaztepe, İZBETON Board Member Orhan Sertaç Dölek, İZBETON Board Member Mehmet Gürhan Özata, and former İZBETON Deputy General Manager Mehmet Alphan Bozan were released. While the continuation of the detention of former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer, CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, SS Business World Housing Cooperative President Cihangir Lübiç, former İZBETON Deputy General Manager Hüseyin Şimşek, former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General and İZBETON Board Vice Chairman Barış Karcı, and former İZBETON General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya was decided, the judicial control conditions for all non-detained defendants whose defenses were taken were also lifted.
LETTER FROM İZBB TO THE COURT
In a letter submitted to the court from İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, which is on the list of those harmed by the crime, it was stated that there was no public harm regarding the allegations of irregularities in travel expenses, accommodation, and organization expenses, and that the letter had been received and placed in the file.
In the hearing, detained defendants, including former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer, CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, SS Business World Housing Cooperative President Cihangir Lübiç, former İZBETON Deputy General Manager Hüseyin Şimşek, former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General and İZBETON Board Vice Chairman Barış Karcı, and former İZBETON General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya, as well as some non-detained defendants, complainants, CHP İzmir Deputy Murat Bakan, former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu, relatives of the defendants, and party members attended.
THE 2ND HEARING WAS HELD
The second hearing of the case, which includes 65 defendants, 6 of whom are detained, including Şenol Aslanoğlu, Tunç Soyer, and Heval Savaş Kaya, was held today. The hearing began with the statements of the defendants who had not yet given their testimonies. Soyer, Aslanoğlu, and Kaya stated in court that they would make their defenses after the opinion was presented. After a 1-hour break, the hearing continued with the statements of the victims.
"I LEFT THE MEETING WHEN I HEARD THEY WERE ASKING FOR MONEY"
One of the victims, Hediye Aksu, said, "I currently cannot afford to pay 1 lira. I paid 815 thousand TL. We attended the General Assembly, but I did not sign anything. I left the meeting when I heard they were asking for money. They asked for a payment of 1 million as an escalation fee. I can't even pay 30 thousand lira in rent. I have no income to provide for my shelter. I do not know anyone by name. I am a complainant and a plaintiff against the defendants."
Another victim, Furkan Umur Zengin, stated, "Before the cooperative elections, some people who found my number called me 6 months in advance to try to create public opinion. They said, 'Corruption was detected in other phases, we have no information about the fourth phase, but we have suspicions. Vote for us, and we will uncover this corruption.' I asked for reasons, but they did not provide any information. I am materially harmed and I am hurt, but I am not sure that those sitting in the defendant's chair are the culprits. I am not a complainant or a plaintiff."
REQUEST FOR CONTINUATION OF TUNÇ SOYER'S DETENTION
After the statements of the victims, the prosecutor presented their opinion. The prosecution requested a forced appearance order for the Urban Transformation Department Head Arzu Özçelik. In the opinion, it was requested to accept the participation requests of the victims and complainants harmed by the crime, to reject the requests for the lifting of judicial control, and to continue the detention of Barış Karcı, Heval Savaş Kaya, Tunç Soyer, Şenol Aslanoğlu, and Cihangir Lübiç, based on the potential to influence evidence due to the socio-economic levels and positions of the defendants according to the expert report, and the fact that the evidence had not been sufficiently collected, while the release and judicial control of Hüseyin Şimşek was requested.