Prosecutor's referral document in corruption investigation into IMM revealed! İmamoğlu labeled 'criminal organization leader'

The investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and 99 other individuals on charges of "being a leader of a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "extortion," "bribery," "qualified fraud," "unlawful acquisition of personal data," and "rigging tenders" is ongoing.

The prosecutor's referral document regarding IMM Mayor İmamoğlu and suspects Ahmet Hamdi Çiçek and Ahmet Talha Bilgin, whose statements were taken as part of the corruption investigation, has been obtained.

The document includes the following statements:

"As a result of the investigation, primarily based on witness statements, MASAK reports, the Ministry of Interior referral report, HTS analyses, preliminary examinations of tender files, and tax inspection reports, it has been determined that suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu appointed individuals who have been with him and were subordinate to him since his time as Mayor of Beylikdüzü to the heads of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality units and subsidiaries after becoming Metropolitan Mayor, and that they committed acts of rigging tenders, qualified fraud, unlawful acquisition of personal data, bribery, and extortion in an organized manner through irregular tenders, direct procurement, or service procurement-type works in many municipal subsidiaries."

İMAMOĞLU LABELED AS CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION LEADER...

The document alleges that while the leader of the profit-oriented criminal organization is the sole undisputed and irresistible authority within the organization, it is understood that the instructions given by the organization leader and manager were carried out by organization members under the other organization managers.

In the referral document, which includes allegations that organization managers held secret meetings to identify companies to be awarded tenders, determined companies to provide side bids, and decided on the tender price and the amount the organization would receive, it is claimed that the person acting as the 'collector' delivered these funds to the organization managers either by participating in secret meetings held by the organization's top managers or directly.

The document notes the following:

"It has been determined that in the structure led by Ekrem İmamoğlu and managed by Murat Ongun, tenders were rigged through his close circle at Medya AŞ and Kültür AŞ, fraud activities were carried out to the detriment of the public institution through imaginary tenders, fake invoices were issued, privileges were granted to businessmen referred to as the 'safe' managed by Fatih Keleş, real estate obtained as a result of bribery or extortion was registered under these businessmen, Keleş also received money under the name of 'commission' from businessmen wanting to collect their receivables from the municipality, in the structure managed by Tuncay Yılmaz, benefits obtained from businessmen were acquired under the names of companies that are partners of organization leader Ekrem İmamoğlu, ensuring his personal enrichment, and in the structure managed by Ertan Yıldız, they forced some businessmen within different municipal boundaries to pay money and applied administrative sanctions to those who did not pay."

The document states, "It has been determined that the foundations of the criminal organization led by İmamoğlu were laid during his time as Mayor of Beylikdüzü, that he appointed individuals who have been with him and were subordinate to him since that period to the heads of IMM units and subsidiaries after becoming IMM Mayor, and that the suspects in managerial positions established their own sub-structures to ensure the continuation of the criminal organization."

"ISTANBUL RESIDENTS' PERSONAL DATA UNLAWFULLY ACQUIRED"

Within the scope of the investigation file, the document alleges that businessmen receiving payments from municipal subsidiaries transferred money to construction projects in which İmamoğlu is a partner, claiming that "the personal data of citizens living in Istanbul were unlawfully acquired within the scope of organizational activities, some businessmen were forced to pay money, administrative sanctions were applied to those who did not pay, municipal business and tenders were given to businessmen connected to them in exchange for financial benefits, and money was demanded from people with receivables from the municipality under the name of 'commission' in order for their payments to be made."

The document, citing tax audit and MASAK reports in the file, alleges that many tenders were rigged between 2021 and 2023, stating, "It has been determined that they ensured only people close to them were included in these tenders, that these people also opened many companies under the names of people working for them to avoid attention and received high-value jobs from Medya AŞ and Kültür AŞ, that some companies were established as single-job entities and had no active commercial life afterwards, that some companies were established solely to issue fake invoices, and that these specified acts were committed continuously within a hierarchical structure as the crime of 'fraud to the detriment of a public institution'."

ALLEGATION: FAKE INVOICES OBTAINED AND FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO SUB-COMPANIES

The document alleges that fines that should have been applied to individuals given work due to their non-compliance with contracts were not applied, leading to public loss and the unjust enrichment of these individuals, and claims that "money transferred to companies authorized by organization members as a result of collusive contracts and service procurements was transferred to sub-companies by establishing companies under the names of people working for or close to the organization members and obtaining fake invoices from these companies."

The document alleges that these sub-companies also issued fake invoices among themselves, and the circulated money was withdrawn in cash and handed over to the organization's collectors.

The document, which claims that companies renting advertising spaces subject to private property applied to the municipality because they needed to obtain permission from the municipality to post advertisements, states, "Although the Municipal Urban Design Directorate was authorized to grant permission, companies were directed to Kültür AŞ, Kültür AŞ demanded fees from companies in exchange for granting permission, companies signed collusive contracts under the name of Kültür AŞ graphic design fee, etc., and issued invoices to the company for the same subject, thus linking the advertising permit to a fee in an illegitimate way; it is understood that by this method, Kültür AŞ created a budget outside the advertising budget, transferred these funds to companies belonging to organization members through collusive contracts, and caused a high amount of public loss."

The document alleges that within the scope of another investigation dated 2025 included in the investigation file, real estate was purchased under the names of businessmen referred to as the organization's 'safe' to turn a blind eye to illegal construction, cash was received, and in another investigation file dated 2025 included in the file, many tenders were rigged in many municipal subsidiaries, primarily Kültür AŞ and Medya AŞ, between 2022 and 2024.