1,008-page indictment against Tunç Soyer accepted; first hearing set for December 4

The Izmir 11th Heavy Penal Court accepted the 1,008-page indictment prepared in the irregularity investigation into IZBETON. In the indictment prepared by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer and former IZBETON General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya face prison sentences of up to 14 years on charges of "aiding and abetting embezzlement" and "forgery of official documents."

Eleven other defendants, including CHP Ankara Provincial Chair Ümit Erkol and former CHP Izmir Provincial Chair Şenol Aslanoğlu, will be tried on charges of "embezzlement" and "forgery of official documents" with prosecutors seeking sentences of up to 20 years. The total number of defendants is 13.

The investigation is based on allegations that benefits were provided through S.S. İş İnsanları Gaziemir Yapı Kooperatifi (S.S. Business People Gaziemir Construction Cooperative) in connection with urban renewal projects in the Gaziemir district. IZBETON is the municipality's concrete and construction materials subsidiary; the cooperative was in direct business relations with this company.

The first hearing at the Izmir 11th Heavy Penal Court will take place on December 4. According to Ekonomim, Soyer handed over his position as municipality mayor during the investigation period that has continued since the 2022 local elections and was not the CHP's candidate in Izmir.