In the ongoing corruption investigation targeting Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), authorities have detained 47 additional suspects during a series of operations.
Investigation involving Ekrem Imamoglu and other officials continues
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is leading the investigation, including former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested and suspended from his position.
The suspects are facing charges of "leading a criminal organization," "membership in a criminal organization," "bribery," "embezzlement," "aggravated fraud," "unlawful acquisition of personal data," and "rigging public tenders."
51 suspects arrested in the corruption and terrorism investigations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, including Ekrem Imamoglu, are sent to prison after their procedures at the courthouse in Istanbul, Türkiye on March 23, 2025 (AA Photo)
New arrest orders and expanded operations across Türkiye
Authorities issued new arrest warrants for 53 individuals as part of the investigation.
Following these warrants, teams from the Financial Crimes Department conducted operations across Istanbul, Ankara, and Tekirdag. As a result, 47 suspects were detained.
Search operations at the homes and workplaces of the suspects are ongoing.
Bakirkoy Deputy Mayor and IBB Assembly Member Ali Riza Akyuz
Former CHP Istanbul Deputy Turan Ayogan
ISKI Environmental Inspection Department Head Adem Sanlisoy
IMM Bosphorus Zoning Director Elcin Karaoglu
Real Estate Consultant Mehmet Sahin
Former General Manager of Istanbul Construction Company (Istanbul Imar Insaat AS), Onur Soyturk
Deputy General Managers of Kultur AS Erdinc Colak and Onur Aldi
Assistant Advertisement Manager of Kultur AS Hakan Karakose
Financial Advisor Meral Cakir
Businessman Dursun Balcioglu
IMM Chief of Staff Kadriye Kasapoglu
Businessmen Mete Maden, Cevat Kaya, and Rasim Kaya
ISTTELKOM General Manager Melih Gecek
IMM Information Technology Department Head Naim Erol Ozguner
IMM engineer and advisor Yakup Oner
Former IMM Deputy Secretary General Turgut Tuncay Onbilgin
IMM Deputy Secretary General Arif Gurkan Alpay
Former IMM Deputy Secretary General Murat Yazici
Former IMM Secretary General Mehmet Cakilcioglu
IMM advisor and the spouse of MEDYA AS Murat Ongun, Zeynep Ayten Gozdem Ongun
IMM Study and Projects Department Head Serap Obekci
Former Study and Projects Department Head Ihsan Yilmaz
Former Real Estate Management Department Head Ali Aycicek
Expropriation Branch Manager Fatih Ozcelik
ISKI Deputy General Manager Begum Celikdelen
Former Municipal Police Department Head Engin Ulusoy
Former Financial Services Department Head Murat Selvi
IMM Writing and Resolutions Department Head Nurten Ugursoy
IMM Urban Planning Department Head Ramazan Gulten
Former Deputy Advertisement Branch Manager Hulya Kirlikova
Yesim Ozay
Oya Ozinan
Mustafa Kemal Ozcengiz
Smart City Branch Programmer Onur Can Tekbas
Former ISKI Procurement Chief Faik Ozberk
IMM European Side Municipal Police Chief Hakan Aplak
Kultur AS Payment Officer Gokhan Koseoglu
Kultur AS Advertisement Chief Metin Bal
IMM Anatolian Side Municipal Police Chief Nazan Baselli
Among the detainees is also Caglar Turkmen, a security guard for Ekrem Imamoglu, identified in footage from Oct. 12, 2024, for obstructing surveillance camera recordings.
This photograph shows a police vehicle parked in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality building on March 19, 2025, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. (AFP Photo)
Search for remaining suspects underway
Efforts are underway to locate and detain the six suspects who remain at large.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to gather further evidence and complete the legal process.
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