New development regarding arrested Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık: Previously closed file reopened

A striking detail has emerged regarding Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, who was arrested as part of a corruption investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).

According to information shared by Cumhuriyet columnist Murat Ağırel, the file cited as the basis for Çalık's arrest had been investigated and closed twice in the past.

The investigation is based on the allegations of Uğur Güngör, a contractor in Beylikdüzü who later became a whistleblower.

Güngör claimed that he applied to the municipality under the administration of the then-Beylikdüzü Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu to obtain a construction permit, but alleged that he was forced to transfer some of his apartments to individuals defined as a "gang" within the scope of the investigation.

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOUND NO CRIMINAL ELEMENTS IN 2020, DISTRICT GOVERNORSHIP IN 2023

Following these allegations, Uğur Güngör filed a criminal complaint with the Büyükçekmece Prosecutor's Office in 2020. However, after reviewing the file, the prosecutor's office issued a decision of "no grounds for prosecution." Güngör appealed this decision before the Bakırköy Judgeship, but the court rejected the appeal and finalized the decision.

Following this, the Beylikdüzü District Governorship launched an administrative investigation into municipal officials to examine similar allegations. In the investigation completed in January 2023, it was decided as a result of the examinations that "the alleged claims were not proven, and no negligence, deficiency, or criminal elements were found," and permission for investigation was not even granted.

News Source: 12punto