Türkİye
Corruption probe finds Istanbul Municipality in fraud, bribery, and organized crime
A comprehensive look at investigation targeting Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and other key figures at center of over $65M fraud
Gizem Nisa Cebi |
25.03.2025 - Update : 25.03.2025
- Mayor Imamoglu, arrested on Sunday, denies all charges as massive ongoing Istanbul corruption probe unfolds
ISTANBUL
A massive corruption probe has taken a dramatic turn as Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, along with 99 other suspects, is facing accusations of bribery, fraud, organized crime, and terrorism-related charges.
The ongoing investigation, spearheaded by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, has revealed a series of revelations about how tenders, personal data, and public resources were allegedly manipulated for financial gain within the municipality.
Arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu and over 50 associates
Imamoglu was arrested on Sunday in a sweeping corruption and terrorism investigation targeting high-ranking municipal officials, shocking Türkiye’s political and business circles.
Imamoglu, who has served as the mayor of Istanbul since 2019, was detained Wednesday by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of a sweeping investigation that has already ensnared multiple officials and businessmen linked to the municipality.
The office announced that 84 individuals, including key figures within the municipality, were detained as part of a broader probe involving 99 suspects.
A team of 30 prosecutors handled the corruption investigation, while 4 prosecutors focused on the terrorism allegations.
Imamoglu underwent 3 1/2 hours of questioning before being referred to the on-duty criminal court of peace with an arrest request.
The court ruled for his pretrial detention on charges including "illegally recording personal data," "accepting bribes," and "rigging public tenders."
"Under the leadership of Imamoglu, many tenders were manipulated through his close associates managing (municipality subsidiaries) Medya Inc. and Kultur Inc., fraudulent activities, and fictitious tenders causing harm to public institutions. Fake invoices were also issued," the ruling also stated.
It implicated Imamoglu’s close associates, including Istanbul Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat and Sisli district Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan, with allegations of aiding terrorist groups, specifically the PKK/KCK.
Further, the ruling emphasized the potential for evidence tampering and the risk of Imamoglu fleeing the country.
So, in total, 84 of 89 suspects in the corruption case, including Imamoglu, were referred for arrest on charges of "being a member of a criminal organization," "receiving bribes," and "giving bribes."
Five others face charges of establishing and leading a criminal organization, rigging public tenders, receiving bribes, extortion, and unlawful acquisition of personal data.
The arrest follows a lengthy investigation, fueled by witness testimonies, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reports, tax audits, and public tender reviews, which pointed to widespread fraud within municipal operations.
Systemic corruption
According to the court ruling, Imamoglu’s administration was built on a foundation of systematic corruption.
It was noted that he had appointed loyalists to key positions in the municipality subsidiaries like Medya Inc. and Kultur Inc., allowing his associates to manipulate tenders and procurements.
The ruling suggested that businessmen seeking contracts with the municipality were required to pay "commissions," which were then funneled into the pockets of the alleged criminal organization.
This network extended through the municipality subsidiaries, where companies controlled by Imamoglu’s allies received high-value contracts. Many of these companies were purportedly shell entities designed to facilitate illicit financial transfers.
"Under the leadership of Imamoglu, many tenders were manipulated through his close associates, fraudulent activities, and fictitious tenders, causing harm to public institutions," the ruling stated.
Some of these companies had no legitimate business operations, but were used solely to channel funds from the municipality to those involved in the scheme.
Authorities believe these fraudulent activities resulted in significant financial losses for public institutions, including the manipulation of billboard contracts between 2019 and 2021, amounting to over $65.8 million (2.5 billion liras).
Bank safes and financial irregularities
The probe intensified with the discovery of nearly $395,000 (15 million liras) in assets hidden in bank safes belonging to several high-ranking officials, including Murat Ongun, the former municipality spokesperson.
Ongun’s safes, along with others owned by figures such as Tuncay Yilmaz and Ertan Yildiz, were seized by authorities as part of the investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
The assets found in the safes raised serious questions about the source of the wealth, particularly considering the public roles of those involved.
The Istanbul Police Financial Crimes Division had ordered the seizure of these safes, marking a pivotal moment in the investigation.
"Imamoglu's companies were used to enrich him" and that money was "funneled to companies linked to organization members through fraudulent contracts," the court ruling said.
Bribery and tender manipulation
As the investigation unraveled, it was revealed that more than 200 tenders were manipulated under Imamoglu’s leadership, with the public losing billions of Turkish liras.
One significant example of this manipulation was tied to irregular billboard contracts between 2019 and 2021, estimated to cause losses exceeding $65.8 million (2.5 billion liras).
Another case involved an alleged bribery request from the owners of Istanbul’s Capacity Shopping Mall, who claimed they were extorted by the municipality officials to avoid penalties related to earthquake safety regulations.
Witness statements indicated that Ertan Yildiz, a key suspect, and his associate Suleyman Atik, demanded a bribe of €5 million ($5.4 million) from the mall owners.
When the bribe was refused, a fine of $5.1 million (197 million liras) was imposed on the mall in retaliation.
Illegal acquisition of personal data
One of the most concerning findings was the illegal acquisition of personal data from Istanbul residents, allegedly used for financial manipulation.
An audio recording has emerged revealing that the personal data of Istanbul residents was allegedly obtained illegally.
The recording surfaced as part of the investigation and includes conversations between two arrested suspects, Murat Ongun and Serdal Taskin, which were discovered by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecutor’s referral letter revealed how companies controlled by Imamoglu’s associates were allowed to bypass normal tender processes.
The manipulation of contracts and tenders was allegedly organized through a hierarchical structure, with bribes being collected by intermediaries and distributed to high-ranking officials within the criminal organization.
Political backlash and Imamoglu's defense
The arrest of Imamoglu has sparked an intense political backlash, with opposition members condemning the investigation as politically motivated.
Imamoglu himself rejected all accusations, claiming that the case against him was a result of judicial harassment. He defended his administration’s land expropriations in Sarıyer’s Resitpasa district, asserting they were standard public-interest measures.
"I swear to continue my legal fight to the end, in the legal arena, against those who tarnished my honor and dignity," he declared during his testimony.
"The thing I trust most about people is recognizing and remembering those I meet once. However, I do not see it as an appropriate method to question me with a list of photographs of people, most of whom are individuals I work with, are related to my personal life, and are political allies.
"My relationships with the people in those photos are already known and documented. I am not someone who will make an effort to identify individuals I do not know by recalling them from memory."
Addressing the corruption charges, he emphasized that his life and finances had always been transparent. "As a public administrator, I know very well that the most important principles are transparency and accountability," he said.
Testimony and arrests of other suspects
Testimony from other arrested suspects, including Bugra Gokce, Serdal Taskin, and Ali Nuhoglu, also denied wrongdoing.
"I am not part of a criminal organization. As a public servant, I performed my duties legally. My assets were investigated following a criminal complaint filed in Izmir, and a decision of no grounds for prosecution was issued. Apart from bureaucratic procedures, I did nothing else. I had no interests or benefits, nor did I provide any," said Gokce, head of the Istanbul Planning Agency.
Murat Ongun, senior advisor to the Istanbul mayor, also denied allegations.
"If this means that I did my job well, I have nothing to say about that. However, I do not engage in character assassination or defamation through social media with a troll army. The company owned by Huseyin Koksal has nothing to do with Ekrem Bey.
"On the claim that I became disproportionately wealthy and lived a life out of proportion with my income, the Interior Ministry did an investigation into me, and nothing negative came out. I was acquitted regarding the claim that I received honoraria from the municipality."
The court also detailed allegations against Mehmet Murat Calik.
"Mehmet Murat Calik was the person who negotiated money demands from businessmen in Beylikduzu while working with crime organization leader Ekrem Imamoglu. He pressured complainant Ugur Gungor into transferring 13 apartments to him, and due to the pressure, the complainant was forced to transfer the apartments. Thus, the suspect committed the crime of extortion."
The prosecutor's referral letter highlighted the "interest-driven criminal organization" led by Imamoglu, alleging that "the foundations of the criminal organization led by Imamoglu were laid during his tenure as the mayor of Beylikduzu."
The letter also detailed manipulated tenders, fraudulent activities, and the illegal acquisition of personal data. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
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ISTANBUL
A massive corruption probe has taken a dramatic turn as Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, along with 99 other suspects, is facing accusations of bribery, fraud, organized crime, and terrorism-related charges.
The ongoing investigation, spearheaded by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, has revealed a series of revelations about how tenders, personal data, and public resources were allegedly manipulated for financial gain within the municipality.
Arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu and over 50 associates
Imamoglu was arrested on Sunday in a sweeping corruption and terrorism investigation targeting high-ranking municipal officials, shocking Türkiye’s political and business circles.
Imamoglu, who has served as the mayor of Istanbul since 2019, was detained Wednesday by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of a sweeping investigation that has already ensnared multiple officials and businessmen linked to the municipality.
The office announced that 84 individuals, including key figures within the municipality, were detained as part of a broader probe involving 99 suspects.
A team of 30 prosecutors handled the corruption investigation, while 4 prosecutors focused on the terrorism allegations.
Imamoglu underwent 3 1/2 hours of questioning before being referred to the on-duty criminal court of peace with an arrest request.
The court ruled for his pretrial detention on charges including "illegally recording personal data," "accepting bribes," and "rigging public tenders."
"Under the leadership of Imamoglu, many tenders were manipulated through his close associates managing (municipality subsidiaries) Medya Inc. and Kultur Inc., fraudulent activities, and fictitious tenders causing harm to public institutions. Fake invoices were also issued," the ruling also stated.
It implicated Imamoglu’s close associates, including Istanbul Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat and Sisli district Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan, with allegations of aiding terrorist groups, specifically the PKK/KCK.
Further, the ruling emphasized the potential for evidence tampering and the risk of Imamoglu fleeing the country.
So, in total, 84 of 89 suspects in the corruption case, including Imamoglu, were referred for arrest on charges of "being a member of a criminal organization," "receiving bribes," and "giving bribes."
Five others face charges of establishing and leading a criminal organization, rigging public tenders, receiving bribes, extortion, and unlawful acquisition of personal data.
The arrest follows a lengthy investigation, fueled by witness testimonies, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reports, tax audits, and public tender reviews, which pointed to widespread fraud within municipal operations.
Systemic corruption
According to the court ruling, Imamoglu’s administration was built on a foundation of systematic corruption.
It was noted that he had appointed loyalists to key positions in the municipality subsidiaries like Medya Inc. and Kultur Inc., allowing his associates to manipulate tenders and procurements.
The ruling suggested that businessmen seeking contracts with the municipality were required to pay "commissions," which were then funneled into the pockets of the alleged criminal organization.
This network extended through the municipality subsidiaries, where companies controlled by Imamoglu’s allies received high-value contracts. Many of these companies were purportedly shell entities designed to facilitate illicit financial transfers.
"Under the leadership of Imamoglu, many tenders were manipulated through his close associates, fraudulent activities, and fictitious tenders, causing harm to public institutions," the ruling stated.
Some of these companies had no legitimate business operations, but were used solely to channel funds from the municipality to those involved in the scheme.
Authorities believe these fraudulent activities resulted in significant financial losses for public institutions, including the manipulation of billboard contracts between 2019 and 2021, amounting to over $65.8 million (2.5 billion liras).
Bank safes and financial irregularities
The probe intensified with the discovery of nearly $395,000 (15 million liras) in assets hidden in bank safes belonging to several high-ranking officials, including Murat Ongun, the former municipality spokesperson.
Ongun’s safes, along with others owned by figures such as Tuncay Yilmaz and Ertan Yildiz, were seized by authorities as part of the investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
The assets found in the safes raised serious questions about the source of the wealth, particularly considering the public roles of those involved.
The Istanbul Police Financial Crimes Division had ordered the seizure of these safes, marking a pivotal moment in the investigation.
"Imamoglu's companies were used to enrich him" and that money was "funneled to companies linked to organization members through fraudulent contracts," the court ruling said.
Bribery and tender manipulation
As the investigation unraveled, it was revealed that more than 200 tenders were manipulated under Imamoglu’s leadership, with the public losing billions of Turkish liras.
One significant example of this manipulation was tied to irregular billboard contracts between 2019 and 2021, estimated to cause losses exceeding $65.8 million (2.5 billion liras).
Another case involved an alleged bribery request from the owners of Istanbul’s Capacity Shopping Mall, who claimed they were extorted by the municipality officials to avoid penalties related to earthquake safety regulations.
Witness statements indicated that Ertan Yildiz, a key suspect, and his associate Suleyman Atik, demanded a bribe of €5 million ($5.4 million) from the mall owners.
When the bribe was refused, a fine of $5.1 million (197 million liras) was imposed on the mall in retaliation.
Illegal acquisition of personal data
One of the most concerning findings was the illegal acquisition of personal data from Istanbul residents, allegedly used for financial manipulation.
An audio recording has emerged revealing that the personal data of Istanbul residents was allegedly obtained illegally.
The recording surfaced as part of the investigation and includes conversations between two arrested suspects, Murat Ongun and Serdal Taskin, which were discovered by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecutor’s referral letter revealed how companies controlled by Imamoglu’s associates were allowed to bypass normal tender processes.
The manipulation of contracts and tenders was allegedly organized through a hierarchical structure, with bribes being collected by intermediaries and distributed to high-ranking officials within the criminal organization.
Political backlash and Imamoglu's defense
The arrest of Imamoglu has sparked an intense political backlash, with opposition members condemning the investigation as politically motivated.
Imamoglu himself rejected all accusations, claiming that the case against him was a result of judicial harassment. He defended his administration’s land expropriations in Sarıyer’s Resitpasa district, asserting they were standard public-interest measures.
"I swear to continue my legal fight to the end, in the legal arena, against those who tarnished my honor and dignity," he declared during his testimony.
"The thing I trust most about people is recognizing and remembering those I meet once. However, I do not see it as an appropriate method to question me with a list of photographs of people, most of whom are individuals I work with, are related to my personal life, and are political allies.
"My relationships with the people in those photos are already known and documented. I am not someone who will make an effort to identify individuals I do not know by recalling them from memory."
Addressing the corruption charges, he emphasized that his life and finances had always been transparent. "As a public administrator, I know very well that the most important principles are transparency and accountability," he said.
Testimony and arrests of other suspects
Testimony from other arrested suspects, including Bugra Gokce, Serdal Taskin, and Ali Nuhoglu, also denied wrongdoing.
"I am not part of a criminal organization. As a public servant, I performed my duties legally. My assets were investigated following a criminal complaint filed in Izmir, and a decision of no grounds for prosecution was issued. Apart from bureaucratic procedures, I did nothing else. I had no interests or benefits, nor did I provide any," said Gokce, head of the Istanbul Planning Agency.
Murat Ongun, senior advisor to the Istanbul mayor, also denied allegations.
"If this means that I did my job well, I have nothing to say about that. However, I do not engage in character assassination or defamation through social media with a troll army. The company owned by Huseyin Koksal has nothing to do with Ekrem Bey.
"On the claim that I became disproportionately wealthy and lived a life out of proportion with my income, the Interior Ministry did an investigation into me, and nothing negative came out. I was acquitted regarding the claim that I received honoraria from the municipality."
The court also detailed allegations against Mehmet Murat Calik.
"Mehmet Murat Calik was the person who negotiated money demands from businessmen in Beylikduzu while working with crime organization leader Ekrem Imamoglu. He pressured complainant Ugur Gungor into transferring 13 apartments to him, and due to the pressure, the complainant was forced to transfer the apartments. Thus, the suspect committed the crime of extortion."
The prosecutor's referral letter highlighted the "interest-driven criminal organization" led by Imamoglu, alleging that "the foundations of the criminal organization led by Imamoglu were laid during his tenure as the mayor of Beylikduzu."
The letter also detailed manipulated tenders, fraudulent activities, and the illegal acquisition of personal data. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
