AKP Mayor confirms Özgür Özel's Kanal Istanbul allegations

Arnavutköy Mayor Mustafa Candaroğlu has acknowledged the claims regarding villas with a view of Kanal Istanbul, which were raised by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel during a rally held in Arnavutköy.

'I HAVE BEEN FROM HERE FOR 50 YEARS'

Stating that he purchased the plot in question before becoming mayor, Candaroğlu said, 'Like many of my fellow citizens in Arnavutköy, I also have property here. I have been from here for 50 years, and the place mentioned is currently under construction.'

In response to Özel's allegations that he and Municipal Council Member Ercan Döner engaged in irregular transactions, Candaroğlu stated, 'We were audited by the IMM (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) and no irregularities were found.' He further noted that the Arnavutköy Municipality issues nearly 4 thousand permits annually.

In his speech at the rally, Özgür Özel had claimed that Candaroğlu and Döner were building villas on a plot with a view of Kanal Istanbul and that these villas were being constructed in violation of zoning regulations. Özel alleged that municipal employees were under pressure during this process and that some civil servants had been reassigned.

Candaroğlu, in response to these claims, stated that 'the IMM has not been laying asphalt in Arnavutköy, and therefore, they as the municipality have stepped in.' He also indicated that he would pursue legal action against Özel's allegations.