06.01.2026 08:30
In the fourth hearing of the case regarding the allegations of irregularities in cooperatives related to İZBETON, it was decided by a majority vote to release the detained defendants Tunç Soyer and Heval Savaş Kaya under the condition of a travel ban and judicial control. However, Soyer and Kaya were unable to be released because they were arrested as part of a recently initiated embezzlement investigation.
The case, also referred to as the "Cooperative Case" in the public, is related to allegations of corruption at İZBETON AŞ, a subsidiary of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, through subcontractor companies, and the interim decision was announced in the 4th hearing of the case.
In the hearing of the case where 65 defendants, including former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer and former General Manager of İZBETON Heval Savaş Kaya, are being tried while in custody, the defendants and their lawyers, as well as the victims and their lawyers, stated that they did not accept the expert report and requested a new expert report to be obtained. The lawyer of the victims, Nilgün Dağdelen, argued that "You brought İzmir residents into a job where you couldn't find a contractor. The constructions are not at the points they should be in exchange for payments. We cannot conduct a proper trial without merging the cooperative files with these files. There are deficiencies in the expert report."
On the other hand, the lawyer of the Örnekköy 3rd Stage Business World Construction Cooperative stated that they were not complainants.
"CONSTRUCTION WORKS DID NOT PROGRESS"
In the hearing, A.G., the Head of the Urban Construction Unit of İZBETON, stated that the land delivery was delayed by 6-7 months due to ground issues in Gaziemir. A.G. said, "An unforeseen ground improvement work was needed on the ground in Gaziemir. Therefore, the delivery process was delayed by about 6-7 months. After the land delivery in Gaziemir, construction works did not progress. For this reason, we wrote warning letters. The 4th stage should have reached 90%, but the level remained around 30%. We did not have any findings regarding public damage. We stopped the construction in accordance with the letter from the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change."
"WE STOPPED IT WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE"
Şenol Aslanoğlu, who took the floor, asked the witness, "You said you stopped the construction based on the findings of the Court of Accounts and the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. The letter was sent in April 2023. Why did you stop the construction in July 2024?" A.G. replied, "We stopped it with the letter that came with the presidential decree." A.G. stated that they informed İzmir Metropolitan Municipality that they would work with cooperatives and that they were aware of the situation, while also noting that no permits had yet been obtained for 2 parcels in Uzundere. The witness also added that if Tunç Soyer continued in his position, the constructions could have been completed.
"POURED CONCRETE WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL"
Ö.Ç., who was heard as a witness and works in the Urban Transformation Department, stated, "Initially, we had no dialogue with the cooperatives. Later, when we saw that the cooperatives were also involved in the construction part, we entered into dialogue. The constructions started with the cooperatives, but we were informed in writing about it approximately 6 months later. The sealing occurred during my leadership. There were unauthorized constructions in the Örnekköy 4th stage project. We made efforts to correct it. They poured concrete without our approval. We also notified the municipality. The unsuitable area was completely demolished and rebuilt. The process took about 5 months. There were deficiencies in iron, there were constructions that did not comply with the project, and incorrect molds were used. The cooperative official, Mr. Çağlar, had concrete poured into the mixer without our permission. The complete halt of the construction occurred with the letter from the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change stating that the cooperatives did not have the authority to construct. We notified İZBETON in writing to stop the construction. İZBETON stopped the constructions," he stated.
"THERE WAS ORGANIZATIONAL WEAKNESS"
The witness, who argued that the constructions would not be completed on time, said, "When the cooperatives started the work, there was an organizational weakness. We warned İZBETON about this and said that if it continued like this, they would not be able to keep up. The cooperatives had weaknesses in organization. Even if the constructions were not halted, the contract would not be completed on time."
"TUGAY NEVER MET WITH US"
Eray Uslu, the spokesperson for the Uzundere Urban Transformation Platform, who was heard as a witness, criticized İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay. Uslu said, "Why have our constructions stopped for the last 2 years? Why have the remaining constructions been left to rot? Cemil Tugay, who has been in office for 2 years, has never met with us. If Tunç Soyer had continued, the constructions would have been completed. If Cemil Tugay had continued when he came, the 3rd stage would have been completely finished, and half of the 4th stage would have been completed. If the constructions had continued, these things would not have happened."
PROSECUTOR PRESENTED OPINION
After the defenses, the prosecution presented its opinion. The prosecution stated that the rejection requests of the expert committee should be rejected as the sworn experts being public officials would not affect their impartiality, that the decision to obtain a new expert report should be left to the committee, that the request of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance to join the case should be accepted, and that the detention status of the detained defendants should continue along with the continuation of judicial control provisions.
"FOR 5 HEARINGS, THE IMPLICATION OF 'FRAUD' HAS NOT PASSED"
After the opinion, Tunç Soyer requested release. Soyer said, "We have discussed everything since the morning, but we have not talked about fraud. I have been waiting for 5 hearings to see if the implication of fraud will pass. It has not passed. No matter how many more hearings are held, it will not pass. But we have been in prison for 6 months on the charge of 'qualified fraud.' Not enough, a second arrest for the second charge of 'aiding embezzlement.' If this model is to be judged, let it be named 'this model is wrong.' Our legal consultancy has discussed this and says 'there is no illegality, continue.' And we continue. I managed a budget of more than 110 billion for 5 years. In addition, I brought 1 billion euros of financing to İzmir from outside. I did not let anyone eat İzmir's rights."
THE COURT PRESIDENT BECAME UNWELL
The other detained defendant, Heval Savaş Kaya, also requested release. While Kaya was making his defense, the court president became unwell and interrupted the hearing. It was learned that the court president had a blood pressure problem, and after a while, the hearing continued from where it left off.
RELEASE FOR SOYER AND KAYA
After the defenses, the interim decision was announced. The committee decided to release the detained defendants Tunç Soyer and Heval Savaş Kaya with a travel ban abroad and under judicial control conditions by majority vote. The committee also ruled to form a new expert committee, to accept the request of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance to join, and to wait for the missing documents, and postponed the case to March 26.
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF PRISON
Meanwhile, Soyer and Kaya could not be released as they were arrested in the embezzlement investigation initiated a few days ago.