The wife of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat couldn't hold back her tears.

```html

In the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the alleged criminal organization led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, which is claimed to have organized tenders by bribing mayors and senior officials of municipalities, the procedures for 39 suspects continue at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan after their health checks at Bayrampaşa State Hospital.

THEY WERE REFERRED TO THE JUDGE WITH A REQUEST FOR ARREST

Among the 31 suspects, including Rıza Akpolat and Aziz İhsan Aktaş, whose statements have been completed by the prosecutor's office, they were referred to the duty magistrate court with a request for arrest on charges of "establishing and managing a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "bribery," "interfering with a tender," "interfering with the performance of a contract," and "money laundering."

9 PEOPLE RELEASED UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL

Among the names taken for judicial questioning, 9 people, including Ahmet Aktaş, the brother of Deputy Minister of Interior Mehmet Aktaş, and Esra Yenidünya, a member of the CHP Beşiktaş Municipal Council, were released under judicial control.

AKPOLAT'S WIFE COULDN'T HOLD BACK HER TEARS AFTER THE JUDICIAL INTERROGATION

The interrogation of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, whose arrest was requested, has been completed at the duty magistrate court. Akpolat's wife, Yeşim Yankılıç Akpolat, hugged Rıza Akpolat, who was taken out of the court under police escort. It was observed that Akpolat could not hold back his tears. CHP members waiting for support said, "Mr. President, we hope to come out of here with good news." Akpolat responded, "It doesn't matter whether it's positive or negative."

THE PROSECUTOR'S STATEMENT HAS EMERGED

Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat stated in his testimony, "I do not think there are irregularities in the tenders conducted by the municipality." Akpolat, who gave clear answers to the prosecutor's detailed questions, said, "During my term as mayor, I did not request any material benefit from anyone due to my duties. No one made such a promise to me either. I know some of the mentioned individuals and companies by name. Apart from that, I have no acquaintance, intimacy, or business relationship. The allegations are unfounded," and he denied the accusations, requesting to be released. Some of the questions directed at Rıza Akpolat and his answers are as follows:

• Prosecutor: "It has been determined that the municipality made a payment of 4 million TL to a company named İldeniz Organizasyon, which is registered in the trade registry under the name Gökçe Gökçe, established to follow the business of Aziz İhsan Aktaş in Beşiktaş, during the period we obtained the municipality's account movements. What do you have to say about this?"



• Akpolat: "I do not know the company. I do not know what work the municipality did and what payment was made."



• Prosecutor: "In a report made to our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on October 25, 2024, irregularities in Beşiktaş Municipality were mentioned, and it was stated that irregularities were made in the tenders taken here. What do you have to say about this?"



• Akpolat: "I do not think there are irregularities in the tenders conducted by the municipality. I have no connection with Aziz İhsan Aktaş."

"I HAD MENTIONED THAT IT WAS WITH THE JEWELRY FROM THE WEDDING"

• Prosecutor: "Did you gain any material benefit from the tenders and real estate sales made by Beşiktaş Municipality?"



• Akpolat: "During my term as mayor, I did not request any material benefit from anyone due to my duties. No one made such a promise to me either. I know some of the mentioned individuals and companies by name. Apart from that, I have no acquaintance, intimacy, or business relationship. The allegations are unfounded. I do not accept the accusations. I am trying to serve nearly 2.5 million people. Due to my duties, I am in contact with the public. Therefore, it is not possible for me to follow all the work and transactions carried out by the municipality. I have delegated most of my authorities to my colleagues through authority transfer. Some parts of the property used as the hospital in the investigation do not belong to us. The reason I was happy when I learned the sale amount is because of this. It was mentioned that there were accounts from my company. I had previously increased the capital. I had mentioned that it was with the jewelry from the wedding. There is no concrete evidence that can constitute the basis for the charges against me. Therefore, I request a decision of non-prosecution and to be released," he said.