New Allegations in Istanbul Municipality Corruption Case
As part of the ongoing financial corruption investigation into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Turkish judicial authorities have announced new detentions and charges against several officials and associates of the former mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
In a police operation carried out on August 15, the mayor of Beyoğlu district, along with 43 others—including municipal advisors, family members, and business associates—were detained. Among those detained, prosecutors have requested pretrial arrest for 20 individuals and judicial supervision for 24 others.
According to the prosecutor’s statement, the suspects are accused of crimes including “managing and being a member of a criminal organization,” “embezzlement,” “bribery,” “bid rigging,” and “manipulation in personnel hiring.”
This case is part of a broader investigation into financial misconduct within the Istanbul Municipality, which previously led to the detention of İmamoğlu and several high-ranking municipal officials. Judicial authorities have used evidence such as recorded phone calls, suspicious financial transactions, and testimonies from confidential witnesses in the case.
Investigations reveal that some of the allegations are linked to companies affiliated with the municipality, operating in sectors such as media, culture, and employment.
