Arrest requests for 6 people, including former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary-General, in Mahiroğlu probe

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed the statement-taking of 8 suspects detained in the second wave of the investigation into businessman and Halk TV Board Chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu. The Prosecutor's Office referred 6 of the suspects to the magistrate's court with a request for arrest and 2 with a request for judicial control.

Among those referred to the court with a request for arrest are former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary-General Ramazan Tezcan, former Head of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Machinery and Supply Department Haluk Harun Tuzsuzoğlu, and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Machinery and Supply Department inspectors Mehmet Meral, Filiz Bulut, Emre Kaya and İbrahim Tuncol. İbrahim Seyfittinoğlu and Murat Topuz were sent to the court with a request for judicial control.

The investigation covers the charges of "bribery", "rigging public tenders" and "laundering assets derived from crime". According to an earlier statement by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it is alleged that Mahiroğlu used his connections at İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to have BUSTECH Araç Bakım Onarım Hizmetleri AŞ established and obtained undue benefit through municipal tenders.

According to Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) data and other evidence, off-the-books bribery payments amounting to 14 million 464 thousand TL linked to the tender processes were identified. The total transaction volume of companies linked to Mahiroğlu was reported as 30 billion 352 million 37 thousand 389 lira 15 kuruş; it was recorded that there were money inflows of 1 billion 62 million 260 thousand 3 lira 28 kuruş through 459 separate transactions and money outflows of 1 billion 118 million 591 thousand 33 lira 88 kuruş through 564 separate transactions in his personal bank accounts.

It was determined that Mahiroğlu, Hakan Arıcan and Sevim Kul are abroad, while Fatih Yadoğlu is a fugitive. Of the 12 suspects detained in the first wave of the investigation, 5 had previously been arrested.