Former urban development director in Yahşihan amassed 541 million lira: 1,630 properties seized

The prosecution investigation into detained former Municipal Urban Development Director Ulaş Biçer of Yahşihan district — a municipality of 39,000 residents in Kırıkkale — has revealed in concrete figures how municipal positions became instruments for accumulating wealth. Biçer's total assets were calculated at 541 million lira.

It was determined that a Porsche valued at 68 million lira was purchased for his sister-in-law Canan Demirkaya, and a Mercedes SUV worth 23 million lira was acquired in the name of his aunt Ayşe Öztürk. Biçer's own registered 32 million lira Mercedes AMG and a 31 million lira Mercedes G Series also appear in the investigation file.

According to the prosecution investigation, a 300 million lira villa in Bodrum and a 110 million lira yacht were linked to Biçer. Eighty-three residential properties, land plots, and vehicles were identified in the name of his wife Elif Biçer; 122 additional real estate properties were identified in the name of his mother-in-law Aliye Demirkaya and 9 more in the name of Ayşe Öztürk, which were then seized. The total seizure encompasses 1,630 properties.

It also emerged in the investigation that Biçer employed a private driver in Ankara. The driver, H.G., who gave a statement, said he was hired to the municipality's payroll on Biçer's orders, that his salary and social security contributions were covered by the municipality, and that a residential apartment in Ankara was transferred to him free of charge.

Yahşihan Municipality is not facing such an investigation for the first time: in 2021, allegations of irregularities related to municipal tenders had also come to light. Ulaş Biçer remains in detention; the prosecution conducting the investigation did not provide further comment.