Breaking News: 3rd wave of operations against IMM: Many detained

It has been learned that detention warrants have been issued for 22 people in the third wave of the corruption investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), within the scope of allegations of irregularities in advertising tenders.

Among those detained is Taner Çetin, Head of the Press, Broadcasting and Public Relations Department.

The statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is as follows:

"In our investigation numbered 2024/228233 conducted by our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office;

In the investigation regarding the actions of an individual named Taner Çetin, who has been in contact with Ekrem İmamoğlu since his time as Mayor of Beylikdüzü, and who was involved in activities at Medya A.Ş. and Kültür A.Ş. under the supervision of Murat Ongun,

According to the findings of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it has been determined that Taner Çetin organized tenders for companies close to him; obtained financial benefits as bribes from the companies that won the tenders, and acquired various movable and immovable assets with these benefits.

According to the information submitted to the file by MASAK, it has been determined that Taner Çetin had the payments for these acquisitions made directly by firms that received work from Medya A.Ş. and Kültür A.Ş.; it was also determined that money was sent from these companies to other personnel of Medya A.Ş. and Kültür A.Ş.

Approximately 22 IMM personnel, company representatives, and company employees involved in the processes of 'no-bid' tenders that Taner Çetin was involved in and the receipt of bribes from these tenders have been identified as target individuals within the scope of the operation, and detention, search, seizure, and examination orders have been issued regarding the relevant persons."

NAMES DETAINED

The names for whom detention warrants were issued within the scope of the investigation are as follows:

1. Taner ÇETİN

2. Hakan SAYIL

3. Hüseyin KUM

4. Faruk CEYHAN

5. Noyan KIRMIZIGÜL

6. Engin GÖNÜL

7. Fatma Ebru ÇINAR

8. Ahmet Rıdvan MURAT

9. Berrin SÜZEN

10. Dilek DEMİR

11. Nihat KOLABER

12. Fikri Murat DEMİR

13. Bülent KÜTÜK

14. Arzu CAN

15. Aslı SİYAHGÜL

16. Savaş CAN

17. Çağatay TAKAOĞLU

18. Mehmet Yusuf YOSUNKAYA

19. Onur GÜLİN

20. Serap KARAY

21. Musa ÖZIŞIK

22. Mustafa KARAOĞLU

OPERATIONS TARGETING IMM

The first operation targeting the IMM was carried out on the morning of March 19, and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained in a dawn raid. İmamoğlu was arrested on corruption charges on March 23 and sent to Silivri Prison.

In the second wave of the operation carried out on April 29, 18 people, including Dilek İmamoğlu's brother Cevat Kaya, were arrested.

DETENTION PROCESS CONDUCTED BY GENDARMERIE

The previous 2 operations were carried out by the financial crimes branch teams. However, it has been learned that today's 3rd wave operation is being conducted by the Gendarmerie.

The detained individuals were not taken to the Vatan Police Headquarters, but to the Provincial Gendarmerie Command Barracks in Maslak.