Illegal hotel construction and donation scandal in Diyarbakır: Favoritism for the AKP municipality

In Diyarbakır, a company that built an illegal hotel in violation of zoning regulations while constructing a private hospital made an 8 million lira donation to the municipality before the local elections. However, the shopping cards obtained following this donation were delivered to the AKP Provincial Headquarters instead of being distributed to the poor, in an attempt to gain political advantage.

VIOLATION OF ZONING REGULATIONS AND THE DONATION PATH

According to a report by Özgür Cebe from Sözcü, Amar İnşaat, which was carrying out the construction of the Dünyapark Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital on the 75-meter boulevard in Diyarbakır, had begun construction of an 8-story hotel in place of a parking lot and green space, in violation of its permit and annexes. When the hotel construction was completed, an occupancy permit was not granted, and it was classified as an illegal structure. The company negotiated with the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality to obtain a construction permit and change the zoning plan, offering to make an 8 million lira donation.

SHOPPING CARDS FOR THE POOR DISTRIBUTED FOR POLITICAL GAIN

With 5 million liras of the donation, shopping cards were purchased to be distributed to the poor. However, these cards were delivered to the AKP Provincial Headquarters by the municipality's private secretary's office with an official record. The AKP Youth and Women's Branches distributed the cards to those who would vote for their party during the election period.

DEMANDS REJECTED FOLLOWING NEW MANAGEMENT CHANGE

After the local elections won by the DEM Party, the new management of the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality rejected the contractor company's demands because they were contrary to zoning regulations. The requests for changes to the zoning plan were found to be non-compliant with the law, and the company could not obtain the zoning changes it wanted from the municipality in exchange for the donation it had made.

News Source: 12punto