Adana Chief Prosecutor's Office: 34 people detained including Cukurova Mayor Kozay

Within the scope of an investigation conducted by the Adana Chief Prosecutor's Office, the duty magistrate court decided to remand 34 suspects in custody, including Cukurova Mayor Emrah Kozay, former Mayor Soner Çetin, and 3 deputy mayors. Other suspects, including 1 deputy mayor, were released under judicial supervision. Two suspects for whom detention orders were issued remain under investigation.

Units from the Provincial Gendarmerie Command's KOM branch conducted an operation at Cukurova Municipality on October 19. In the operation, 44 suspects were detained, including Kozay, Çetin, 4 deputy mayors, and 1 manager of an anonymous company affiliated with the municipality; this number rose to 49 with the apprehension of 5 wanted individuals.

The Adana Chief Prosecutor's Office launched the investigation based on allegations that irregularities were committed in tenders and direct procurements, that the exemption provision in Article 3/g of Law No. 4734 on Public Procurement was used improperly, that bribes were received in exchange for contractor payment claims, and that some municipal personnel received salaries despite not actually reporting for duty. The charges include forming a criminal organization, bribery, qualified fraud, and tender fraud.

According to Anadolu Agency, a three-member expert panel examined tender and direct procurement documents for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026, and the prepared report along with other evidence formed the basis of the operation.