Concert investigation into Ankara Metropolitan Municipality

The investigation launched in November 2024 by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations that "expenditures for concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality between 2021 and 2024 caused public loss" is ongoing.

As part of the investigation, 14 people were detained in an operation stated to have been carried out by the Ankara Police Department's Financial Crimes Bureau on September 23, including Haluk Erdemir, Head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs, and Hacı Ali Bozkurt, Coordinator of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs, whom ABB Mayor Mansur Yavaş had temporarily suspended from duty until the investigation into the concerts is completed.

According to the statement made by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the operation, it was determined that the administration suffered a loss of 154 million 453 thousand 221.60 Turkish Lira in 32 concert service procurements, based on the referral report prepared by the Ministry of Interior's Civil Inspection Board, MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) review, Court of Accounts audit, and expert reports.

The detained individuals were brought to the courthouse today. Following their statements to the prosecutor, 9 individuals were referred to the judgeship with a request for arrest, and 5 were referred with a request for judicial control.

STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

The statement from the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office included the following:

"With the completion of the proceedings by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the 14 suspects, including the 13 suspects for whom detention orders were previously issued and 1 suspect detained during the statements, as part of the investigation conducted by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations that expenditures for concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality between 2021 and 2024 caused public loss;

The suspects; former Head of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Department of Culture and Social Affairs H. A. B., former Acting Branch Manager of Cultural Events / former Acting Head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs H. E., former Acting Head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs H. Z., former Acting Branch Manager of Cultural Events A. A. Ç., Acting Branch Manager of Cultural Events C. A., Acting Branch Manager of Cultural Events K. B., owner of Evren Teknik Grup Müzik Organizasyon San. Tic. Ltd. Şti. O. E., and partners of Festiva ve Enfest Organizasyon Turizm San. Tic. Ltd. Şti. K. A. and S. Ç. were referred to the Ankara Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for their arrest on charges of Embezzlement and Rigging Tenders,

The suspects; owner of Univerce Company S. E., owner of Gurudan Company A. A., partners of Yalınayak Company E. D. and L. E., and Metropolitan Municipality employee O. C. T. were referred to the Ankara Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for judicial control."