Breaking News... Adalar Mayor Ercan Akpolat detained

An operation was carried out against the CHP-run Adalar Municipality on charges of "bribery," "extortion," and "forgery of official documents." During the operation, 41 suspects, including Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat and two of his deputies, were detained.

STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

The statement from the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is as follows: "Following reports received by our prosecutor's office regarding Adalar Mayor Ercan Akpolat, Deputy Mayors Hüseyin Yılmaz and Fırat Durak, as well as unit managers and personnel, alleging that they issued licenses in exchange for bribes for unauthorized locations in the Adalar region, which holds the status of a natural and archaeological protected area; and that they turned a blind eye to major renovations and construction activities in buildings within the archaeological protected area in exchange for bribes under the guise of simple repairs, an investigation was launched against the suspects for the crimes of bribery, extortion, forgery of official documents, establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, violation of Law No. 2863, and misconduct in public office. In this context, the Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Financial Crimes Investigation Branch was instructed to uncover the crime and identify evidence. Certain call records and MASAK reports were obtained. As a result of these findings, it was determined that permission was granted in exchange for bribes under the guise of simple repairs for major interventions carried out by owners on structures with historical monument status in the Adalar; that licenses were issued or ignored in exchange for bribes for businesses in the Adalar that did not qualify for licenses; that substantial fines were imposed on unlicensed businesses and illegal construction projects merely for show, thereby incorporating property owners and unlicensed business owners into the system; that negotiations were held with property owners and unlicensed business owners regarding the reduction of fines, with bribery bargains struck based on the condition, location, and value of the structure; that the fines of unlicensed business owners and property owners who agreed to pay bribes were reduced through irregularities in the documents, thereby obtaining financial gain; that municipal officials directed business owners seeking licenses from the Adalar Municipality to architects connected to them, thereby incorporating business owners into the system and conducting bribery negotiations through these architects; that the transactions of business owners who entered the system were expedited and the issuance of irregular licenses was ensured; and that, according to evidence reflected in the files, municipal officials and business owners bargained over bribes, and the money subject to the bribe was delivered by hand to municipal officials or individuals connected to them. It was determined that 47 suspects were involved in the crime across 40 separate actions. Simultaneous search and detention operations were carried out at 90 addresses in 4 provinces, and at this stage, 37 suspects were detained and a large amount of digital material was seized."

News Source: 12punto