39 people arrested in Bakırköy Municipality operation

Thirty-nine people detained under a probe into "tender fraud" and "embezzlement" led by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office have been arrested. Among those arrested are deputy municipal mayors, city council members, municipal staff, and representatives of firms participating in tenders; 20 of those detained are municipal employees.

The prosecutor's office issued arrest, detention, search, and seizure warrants for 68 suspects in an operation that began on October 27. In the investigation, expert examination was conducted on 42 tender files from open and negotiated procedures carried out by different departments of Bakırköy Municipality between 2024 and 2026; the suspects' HTS records and MASAK reports were analyzed, and communication tracking and technical surveillance measures were employed.

According to the prosecutor's office statement, irregularities causing public loss were detected in the municipality's goods and services procurement tenders; it was alleged that business owners seeking workplace operation licenses were unlawfully demanded payment, and that processing of licenses for businesses that did not pay was left pending.

Bakırköy Mayor Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu made a brief statement regarding her colleagues, claiming the operation was timed to "cover up other agendas"; however, she did not respond to any specific allegations.