21.04.2026 13:50
Ali Demirçalı, the Mayor of Yüreğir District in Adana, was sentenced to 5 years, 3 months, and 10 days in prison in a case where he was accused of bribing a bureaucrat from Çukurova Municipality for the permits and licensing processes of his construction company. Following the sentence, Ali Demirçalı was removed from his position as the Mayor of Yüreğir.
In the Adana 10th High Criminal Court, the case opened within the scope of the investigation conducted for the crimes of 'Irregularity in zoning', 'Bribery', and 'Forgery in official documents' resulted in the conviction of the Mayor Demirçalı, who was tried without detention, to 5 years, 3 months, and 10 days in prison. The then Deputy Mayor of Çukurova, Ali Arslanlıoğlu, was sentenced to 7 years and 13 days in prison.
THE DECISION WILL BE APPEALED
The court panel also imposed a travel ban abroad on all defendants who received sentences until the decision becomes final. Mayor Demirçalı's lawyers announced that they would appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals.
THE ALLEGATION DATES BACK 8 YEARS
Ali Demirçalı, the Mayor of Yüreğir, who was sentenced to 5 years, 3 months, and 10 days in prison in the case where he was tried without detention on the charge of bribing a bureaucrat of Çukurova Municipality, made a written statement regarding the decision.
Demirçalı stated the following:
"In the local elections held in 2024, we won the Yüreğir Municipality as the candidate of the CHP after 35 years. During our 2-year term, we provided services by opening Yüreğir Municipality to all segments, embracing all the differences in society. In these 2 years, we have undertaken significant services. We gained the public's favor through this. However, our efforts and success seem to have disturbed certain circles and groups. After being elected mayor, a public case was opened against me on the allegation of 'giving bribes'. The alleged crime dates back 8 years. This case has come to the fore because of my position as mayor. The decision made as a result of a case opened due to an allegation from an accuser trying to save themselves from 8 years ago is null and void in the conscience of society.
Today, the judgment against me is unjust and unlawful. A fair and impartial trial has not been conducted. The requests of my lawyers have not been investigated by the court, and my right to be acquitted has been taken away. Thus, the presumption of innocence has been violated. The court has made a decision against me with a prejudged, biased, and hasty manner without collecting any of our evidence. It should be known that this decision is only a local court decision. It is not a final decision. We believe that this decision will be overturned in the appeal and Supreme Court stages. It is not possible for us to accept a decision that the people of Adana and Yüreğir do not accept. This decision will not prevent me from fulfilling my responsibility to the people of Yüreğir. I will continue to serve the people of Yüreğir and Adana more. Sooner or later, justice will prevail. We will continue to work with our people."
SUSPENDED FROM OFFICE
Following the sentence, the Ministry of Interior announced that Ali Demirçalı, the Mayor of Adana Yüreğir, has been suspended from his duties with a temporary measure.
In the statement from the Ministry of Interior, it was said, "As a result of the investigation conducted against Yüreğir Mayor Ali DEMİRÇALI for the crime of 'Bribery', upon the decision of the Adana 10th High Criminal Court dated 03.04.2026 and numbered E:2024/17, which sentenced him to 5 years, 3 months, and 10 days in prison, he has been suspended from his duties by the Ministry of Interior as a temporary measure in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393. It is respectfully announced to the public."