Interim ruling announced in İZBETON cooperative case: Decision to continue Tunç Soyer's detention

In the investigation into 'irregularities in cooperative affairs' conducted regarding İZBETON AŞ, a subsidiary of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, former İzmir MetropolitanMetropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, among others,in the 3rdhearing of the 65 defendants, 3 of whom are detained,the interim ruling in the trial wasannounced.

By the İzmir 23rd High Criminal Court at the Aliağa Penal Execution Institutions CampusAt the hearing held today at thecourthouse, the detained defendants, former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality (İzBB) Mayor Tunç Soyer, former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General and İZBETON AŞ GDeputy Chairman of the Board of DirectorsBarış Karcı and former İZBETON AŞ General ManagerHeval SavaşKaya, as well as some other defendants and the formerRepublican People's Party (CHP) İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, who was released under house arrest in the 2nd hearing, cooperative victimcomplainants, lawyers for the parties, and families attended. In the hearing, the prosecutionThe prosecutorannouncedtheiropinion. The prosecutor requested that the current detention status of the jailed defendants be maintained and that the judicial control measures for the other defendants remain in effect. Furthermore, they expressed an opinion in favor of waiting for expert reports andtaking the testimonies of witnesseswho have not yet been heard.The courtevaluated the request.The hearing continuedwith the receipt of defense statements against the prosecutor's opinion.

TUNÇ SOYER: THE CURRENTADMINISTRATIONM DID NOT COMPLY WITH THIS

Former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer statedin his defense, "The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality made a protocol with İZBETON AŞ to resolve the stalled urban transformationopened all processes.After receiving this authorization, İZBETON AŞ signedagreementswith cooperatives. Despite the Court of Accounts scrutinizing every detail, it did not identify any public loss. The Council of State alsocanceledthe Ministry of Interior's investigation permit, ruling that there was no fraud ormisconduct in officein the project. TMetropolitanMunicipality Legal Advisory Office prepared an opinionthat clarifiedthe situation. On August 16, 2023, superior public interestwasby summarizing that wenotified that construction would continue. However, the current management did not comply with this.If construction had continued, we would have already startedhanding over the keys in 5 cooperatives. We established a model that would provide thousands of citizens with their homes without spendinga single penny from the municipality's budget," he said, requesting his acquittal.

Following the defenses of the detained former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Barış Karcı and İZBETON AŞ General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya, the court announced its interim ruling.

HEARTHE HEARING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED TO JANUARY 5, 2026.

Former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer is among the 3 individuals.In the trial involving 65 defendants, including those in custody,the court announced its interim ruling,decidingto continue the detention of TunçSoyer and Heval SavaşKaya, while ordering the release of Barış Karcı and lifting the house arrest imposed on Şenol Aslanoğlu. The hearing was adjourned to January 5, 2026.