5 arrests in bribery probe linked to İzmir Metropolitan Municipality

Five suspects have been arrested in the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into Cafer Mahiroğlu on charges of "bribery", "rigging a tender" and "laundering assets derived from crime".

The proceedings before the criminal judgeship of peace for the 8 suspects who were taken into custody and referred to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan have been completed. The judgeship ruled for the arrest of former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary-General Ramazan Tezcan, former head of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Machinery and Supply Department Haluk Harun Tuzsuzoğlu, controller in the same department Mehmet Meral, and Doruk Bulut and İbrahim Tuncol. Judicial control measures were imposed on the other suspects, Filiz Bulut, İbrahim Seyfittinoğlu and Murat Topuz.

In an earlier statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had said that findings were reached indicating that Mahiroğlu used his connections at the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to have BUSTECH Araç Bakım Onarım Hizmetleri AŞ established and that unfair benefit was obtained through municipal tenders. According to the statement, in line with MASAK data and other evidence, an unrecorded bribery payment of 14 million 464 thousand lira linked to the tender processes was made, payments were made at exorbitant prices for work obtained through the company, and revenues were transferred to companies linked to Mahiroğlu.

The prosecutor's office noted that the total transaction volume of companies linked to Mahiroğlu was 30 billion 352 million 37 thousand 389 lira 15 kuruş, and that his personal bank accounts showed total inflows of 1 billion 62 million 260 thousand 3 lira 28 kuruş across 459 separate transactions and total outflows of 1 billion 118 million 591 thousand 33 lira 88 kuruş across 564 separate transactions. Overseas money transfers and asset acquisitions were also taken under examination.

Companies determined to be partners, managers or otherwise linked to suspect Mahiroğlu were seized by decision of the criminal judgeship of peace, and the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as trustee. Within the scope of the investigation, access to the social media accounts of Halk TV, to which TMSF was appointed as trustee, was also blocked.

It was determined that the suspects Cafer Mahiroğlu, Hakan Arıcan and Sevim Kul are abroad, that suspect Doruk Bulut is in prison for another crime, and that suspect Fatih Yadoğlu is a fugitive. In the continuation of the investigation, 8 more suspects were taken into custody in a second wave of operations.