Verdict day in the Aziz İhsan Aktaş criminal organization case

The verdict hearing for the case involving 200 defendants, including Aziz İhsan Aktaş, will be held today. The Istanbul 1st High Criminal Court will convene for the 60th hearing of the case in the courtroom opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution.

Among the defendants in the file are 7 mayors, 6 of whom have been suspended from their duties. During the hearing, the final statements of the 200 defendants, 5 of whom are in custody, are expected to be heard after their statements against the prosecutor's opinion on the merits were taken. Following the final statements, the court panel is expected to announce its verdict.

Presiding Judge Oğuzhan Gül stated at the hearing on July 29 that the case was planned to be concluded on Monday, August 24, and notified all defendants and lawyers that they must attend the hearing.

WHAT SENTENCES ARE BEING SOUGHT IN THE FILE?

In the opinion on the merits submitted on May 14, the public prosecutor requested that Aziz İhsan Aktaş be sentenced to between 103 and 280 years in prison for the crimes of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "rigging a tender," "forgery of a private document," "forgery of an official document," "bribery," and "rigging the performance of an act."

In the opinion, a prison sentence of 119 to 328 years was requested for Baki Nugay, and 86 to 234 years for the detained defendant Rıza Akpolat. A prison sentence of 64 years and 6 months to 179 years was also requested for Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Ali Rıza Yılmaz.

The prosecution requested that Abdurrahman Tutdere, Zeydan Karalar, Kadir Aydar, the detained defendant Oya Tekin, and her husband Celal Tekin be sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison each for the crime of "bribery." For Utku Caner Çaykara, an acquittal was requested for one charge, while a prison sentence of 4 to 12 years was requested for the crime of "bribery."

The first operation within the scope of the investigation was carried out on January 13, 2025. In the 579-page indictment completed on October 20, 2025, the prosecution listed the Beşiktaş, Avcılar, and Esenyurt municipalities, as well as İSFALT and İETT, as "parties harmed by the crime"; 19 people were included in the file as "victims" and 200 people as "defendants."

In the trial that began on January 27, 59 hearings were held until July 29. During this process, the defenses of the detained and non-detained defendants were taken; witnesses, complainants, and the lawyers of the parties were heard. The number of detained defendants, which was 33 at the first hearing, dropped to 5 following releases, including those of some mayors.