Rıza Akpolat acquitted in bounced check case

Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat has been acquitted in the bounced check cases filed against him. The verdict was delivered at the Istanbul 21st Enforcement Criminal Court, where the files involving Akpolat and acting mayor Rasim Şişman were heard. The court ruled that Akpolat and Şişman were innocent and acquitted them in both cases.

The company at the center of the case, İçkale Sosyal Hizmetler, is owned by businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş. The lawsuits filed by the company due to bounced checks had led to the legal prosecution of Beşiktaş Municipality officials. The court stated that Akpolat and Şişman had no connection to the accusations and issued acquittal rulings in both cases.

RECORD FINE FOR THE CONFESSOR

However, a heavy penalty was imposed on Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Ozan İş, who was a confessor in the case. Responsibility for the checks issued to the İçkale company that subsequently bounced was placed on Ozan İş. The court imposed a judicial fine of 99,987,350 TL for a 100 million TL check dated June 3, 2025, and a judicial fine of 112,387,350 TL for a second check of 112 million 400 thousand TL issued on the same date. These fines totaled over 212 million TL.

COMMITMENT AND INSTALLMENT PAYMENT

It was decided that the total fine of 212 million TL imposed on Ozan İş would be paid in 10 equal installments, taking the defendant's economic situation into account. However, the court announced that if even one installment is not paid on time, the fines will be converted into prison sentences. Furthermore, a ban on issuing checks and opening check accounts was imposed on Ozan İş and the Beşiktaş Municipality, the issuer of the checks.

NEW REQUEST FROM LAWYERS

During the hearing, the defense attorneys stated that negotiations with the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) regarding the checks were ongoing. The lawyers requested that the main case continuing at the Istanbul 1st High Criminal Court be treated as a prejudicial issue. However, the court rejected this request, ruling that the outcome of the enforcement criminal case would not affect the high criminal court file.