23.03.2025 06:30
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been referred for arrest on the grounds of being an "organization leader" in relation to the investigation into corruption allegations at the IMM. In the prosecutor's referral letter, it was stated, "The foundations of the organization were laid during his tenure as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü."
"Assisting a terrorist organization" and "corruption in the İBB" allegations led to the detention of İmamoğlu, who was referred to the duty magistrate for a request for his arrest after his statements were taken in both investigations. In the indictment sent by the prosecutor regarding the "corruption" allegations in the İBB, it was claimed that İmamoğlu was the "leader of a criminal organization." The document mentioned that an investigation was initiated ex officio on October 18, 2024, regarding İmamoğlu and some other individuals, including Murat Ongun, and it was alleged that the suspects committed organized crimes such as irregular tenders, interference in tenders through direct procurement or service acquisition, qualified fraud, unlawful acquisition of personal data, bribery, and extortion through organized means in many municipal subsidiaries.
"İMAMOĞLU IS THE LEADER, ONGUN IS THE MANAGER"
In the indictment, under the heading "hierarchy of the organization," it was claimed that "while the organization has a single decision-maker, the instructions given by the organization leader and manager are carried out by the organization members, and secret meetings are held by the organization managers to pre-determine the companies to be awarded tenders, decide on the tender price and the share that will go to the organization, and the person who is the collector also participated in these meetings and delivered the money to the organization managers."
It was alleged in the document that under the structure managed by Murat Ongun, who is led by İmamoğlu, tenders were manipulated through close associates over Media A.Ş and Culture A.Ş, that fraudulent tenders were conducted to the detriment of public institutions, and that fake invoices were issued. It was also claimed that in the structure managed by Fatih Keleş, privileges were granted to businessmen referred to as "cashiers" in tenders, that properties obtained as a result of bribery or extortion were transferred to these businessmen, and that Keleş received money from businessmen who wanted to collect their receivables from the municipality under the name of "commission." The document stated that "in the structure managed by Tuncay Yılmaz, the benefits obtained from businessmen were transferred to the companies in which İmamoğlu is a partner, ensuring his personal enrichment."
"THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION WERE LAID DURING THE BEYLİKDÜZÜ MAYORALTY"
It was claimed in the document that "the foundations of the criminal organization led by İmamoğlu were laid during his tenure as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü," and it was stated that the individuals who have been with İmamoğlu since that time and are subordinate to him were appointed to the heads of the subsidiaries of the Metropolitan Municipality after he became the Mayor of Istanbul, and that the suspects in managerial positions established their own sub-structures to ensure the continuation of the criminal organization. It was alleged that businessmen receiving payments from municipal subsidiaries transferred money to the construction projects in which İmamoğlu is a partner, and that personal data of citizens living in Istanbul were unlawfully acquired as part of the organization's activities. The document included statements that "some businessmen were forced to pay money, that administrative sanctions were applied to those who did not pay, that the municipality's business and tenders were awarded to businessmen connected with them in exchange for material benefits, and that those who had receivables from the municipality were asked for money under the name of 'commission' to ensure their payments."
ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD
The document stated that reports in the case indicated that many tenders were manipulated between 2021 and 2023, and that they ensured that only people close to them won these tenders, claiming that "to avoid drawing attention, they opened many companies in the names of people working with them, received high-value jobs from Media A.Ş and Culture A.Ş, that some jobs were established as single jobs, later having no active commercial life, and that some companies were established solely to issue fake invoices, and it was determined that these actions continuously constituted the crime of fraud to the detriment of public institutions within the hierarchical structure."
"THEY CAUSED UNJUST ENRICHMENT"
It was alleged in the document that due to the lack of monetary penalties against the individuals who acted contrary to the contract, public harm was caused, and these individuals were unjustly enriched. It was claimed that "as a result of collusive contracts and service acquisitions, the money transferred to the companies whose representatives are members of the organization was funneled to individuals working for or related to these members by establishing companies and obtaining fake invoices from these companies, and that the money was transferred to sub-companies, which in turn issued fake invoices among themselves, and the cash was withdrawn and handed over to the organization's collectors."
ADVERTISING PERMITS WERE LINKED TO ILLEGAL FEES
It was stated in the document that companies renting advertising spaces subject to private ownership had to apply to the municipality for permission to hang advertisements, and although the Municipality Urban Design Directorate was authorized to grant permission, the companies were directed to Culture A.Ş. It was claimed that "Culture A.Ş demanded fees from the companies in exchange for granting permission, and the companies issued invoices to Culture A.Ş under the guise of graphic design fees, thus illegally linking the advertising permission to a fee, and that in this way, Culture A.Ş created a budget outside of the advertising budget and transferred these funds to companies belonging to organization members through collusive contracts, causing significant public harm."
"İMAMOĞLU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CRIMES"
The document continued by stating that in order to overlook illegal constructions, real estate purchases were made in the names of businessmen referred to as the organization's cashiers, and cash was received, alleging that they committed fraud to the detriment of public institutions and caused billions of lira in public harm. It was noted that MASAK, based on the preliminary report of the Tax Audit Board and witness statements, indicated that the alleged crimes were continuously committed within the hierarchical structure in accordance with the orders and instructions of İmamoğlu and other individuals, stating that "the founder and manager of the organization will be responsible for all crimes committed within the organization," and that there is strong suspicion based on concrete evidence that İmamoğlu committed the crimes of "Establishing and Managing a Criminal Organization, Receiving Bribes, Manipulating Tenders, Unlawfully Acquiring Personal Data, Qualified Fraud, Extortion, Money Laundering, Unjust Enrichment, and Violating the Tax Procedure Law."