Major heist by former AKP mayor: He took the plots for himself

Manisa's Gölmarmara Municipality has been the scene of a major scandal following the 2024 local elections. The real estate swap, which took place during the term of former AKP mayor Kamil Öz, was uncovered during audits conducted after the new CHP mayor, Cem Aykan, took office. In the scandal, which was also mentioned in Court of Accounts reports, it is alleged that three municipal properties were swapped for Kamil Öz's own properties.

SWAP TRANSACTION CONDUCTED BEFORE THE ELECTION

According to a report by Birgün newspaper correspondent Mustafa Bildircin, the swap transaction was carried out just a few days before the local elections. Three municipal properties were exchanged for Kamil Öz's own properties based on the market values determined by the municipal council and the municipal committee.

While the square meter price of the municipal properties was shown to be well below market value, a value of 6,000 TL per square meter was assigned to Öz's properties. This situation has drawn criticism, with accusations of a "last-minute heist" and the "use of public property for personal gain."

"THE POINT WHERE EVEN THE SALT HAS ROTTED"

CHP Manisa Deputy Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu described the events in Gölmarmara as "the point where even the salt has rotted." Bakırlıoğlu stated that while some mayors are being tried on baseless allegations, the incident in Gölmarmara is on a different level. He emphasized that a mayor selling his own municipality's land to himself is a major conflict of interest.

Bakırlıoğlu stated, "This is the use of public property for personal gain," and noted that the CHP mayor of Gölmarmara, Cem Aykan, filed a criminal complaint as soon as he took office. However, he added that no action has been taken to date.

"I WILL NOT LET ONE PERSON CONSUME THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE OF GÖLMARMARA"

Bakırlıoğlu stated that the swap transaction caused significant public loss and announced that a legal process has been initiated. "This loss must be recovered," said Bakırlıoğlu, continuing, "The property of our fellow citizens in Gölmarmara cannot be turned into one person's private property." He also stated that six days before the election, Kamil Öz had purchased land from the municipality in the name of his sister and mother, which he described as unacceptable.

LEGAL PROCESS INITIATED

It has been learned that CHP Mayor Cem Aykan began reviewing transactions related to municipal properties as soon as he took office and subsequently filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office. However, it has been reported that no judicial process has been initiated so far.

News Source: 12punto