14.10.2026 08:50
After the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced the details of the investigation. It announced that, within the scope of the investigation conducted against the channel's owner, Cafer Mahiroğlu, for "bribery," "bid-rigging," and "money laundering," affiliated companies had been seized and the TMSF had been appointed as trustee.
After a trustee was appointed to Halk TV, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office made a statement regarding the operation. In the statement, it announced that within the scope of the investigation conducted against the channel's owner, Cafer Mahiroğlu, for "bribery", "bid rigging" and "money laundering", affiliated companies were seized and the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as trustee.
"BRIBERY" AND "EXCESSIVE PRICING" DETECTED IN IZMIR METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY TENDERS
In the official statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was emphasized that Mahiroğlu, by using his connections with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, ensured the establishment of BUSTECH Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Services Inc., transferred its management to people under his control, and obtained unjust gains through municipal tenders.
The findings highlighted in the investigation file were listed as follows:
- It was determined that unrecorded bribe payments amounting to 14 million 464 thousand TL were made in connection with the tender processes.
- It was determined that payments were made at exorbitant prices far above the tender amounts and that these revenues were transferred to companies linked to Mahiroğlu.
30 BILLION TL IN ACCOUNT TRAFFIC
In the analysis of data provided by MASAK, it was revealed that the total transaction volume of companies with which Mahiroğlu was affiliated was 30,352,037,389 TL. In the suspect's personal bank accounts, money inflows and outflows exceeding 1 billion TL were detected.
Additionally, it was recorded that high-value international SWIFT transfers were carried out through the accounts of companies of which the suspect was a manager and of his first-degree relatives, and that there were serious inconsistencies between the assets acquired and the income declared.
CAFER MAHİROĞLU ABROAD, 11 SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY
The statement included the information that Cafer Mahiroğlu had an outstanding arrest record for "bid rigging" as part of a separate investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and that he left the country on March 10, 2025.
In line with the investigation, during simultaneous operations conducted on the morning of October 14, 2026, against 17 suspects for whom detention orders had been issued, 11 people were caught and taken into custody. While it was understood that 4 of the suspects were abroad and 1 was in prison, efforts continue to catch 1 fugitive suspect.