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Beşiktaş Municipality on the political agenda: Mansur Yavaş reacts sharply to Rıza Akpolat decision

Following the detention of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat in a morning operation, a statement came from Mansur Yavaş. Yavaş emphasized the impartiality of justice.

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Detention warrants have been issued for 47 people as part of a 'tender corruption' investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Among those for whom detention warrants were issued are Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was previously arrested and replaced by a trustee, and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat.

The investigation was launched following the discovery that "in some municipalities, tender processes were organized by bribing mayors and senior municipal officials, ensuring that tenders were awarded to their own companies." Detention warrants were issued for 47 people, including members of a criminal organization operating for profit led by 'Aziz İhsan Aktaş'.

DETAINED IN EDREMİT

Meanwhile, it was learned that Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat was detained by the gendarmerie in the Narlı neighborhood of Edremit district in Balıkesir.

A statement was made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the matter.

The statement included the following expressions:

“According to the evidence obtained during the approximately three-month process as part of the investigation launched upon the discovery that a criminal organization led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş organized tender processes by bribing mayors and senior municipal officials, and ensured that tenders were awarded to their own companies;

1-) Regarding criminal organization leader Aziz İhsan Aktaş and (24) suspects operating within the organization, for the crimes of Establishing and Managing a Criminal Organization, Being a Member of a Criminal Organization, Bribery, Rigging Tenders, Rigging the Performance of an Act, Violation of the Tax Procedure Law, and Laundering Assets,

2-) Regarding (12) suspects who are municipal officials, including former Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer (Based on witnessed testimony, collected evidence, and expert reports, it was determined that a person considered to be a contractor employee and also a member of the criminal organization met with Esenyurt Municipality officials, who were the tender authorities, at the municipal building during the preparation process of the tenders under investigation, interfered with the approximate cost and specifications, and accessed documents that should have remained confidential, engaging in acts of rigging aimed at finalizing the tender as they wished), for the crimes of Rigging Tenders, Accepting Bribes, and Unjust Acquisition of Assets in accordance with Article 13 of Law No. 3628 on Declaration of Assets and Combating Bribery and Corruption (detention procedures were not carried out for (11) suspects as suspect Ahmet Özer is currently detained under another investigation for being a member of an armed terrorist organization, and he will be referred later),

3-) Regarding Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat and the President and members of Beşiktaş Municipality Beltaş İşletmecilik Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, a total of (10) suspects; for the crimes of membership in a criminal organization, rigging tenders, bribery, and unjust acquisition of assets in accordance with Article 13 of Law No. 3628 on Declaration of Assets and Combating Bribery and Corruption,

Detention, search, and seizure warrants were issued simultaneously for a total of (47) suspects as of 05:00 on 13.01.2025, and operations to execute these decisions are ongoing."

POLICE BLOCKADE IN FRONT OF THE MUNICIPALITY

Teams from the Istanbul Financial Crimes Investigation Bureau, who went to the Beşiktaş Municipality in the morning, searched and examined Akpolat's office.

On the other hand, following the issuance of detention warrants for 47 people, including Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, police teams were dispatched to the front of the Beşiktaş Municipality.

The area in front of the municipality was surrounded by barriers, and entrances and exits were blockaded by the police.

Municipal staff are entering by showing their identification cards.

REACTION FROM MANSUR YAVAŞ

Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş expressed his support for the detained Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat.

Yavaş made the following statements on social media:

''In democracies, proceedings against elected officials who represent the will of the people must be carried out in accordance with the principle of the rule of law and the impartiality of justice.

The detention of our Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat in a morning operation is inconsistent with democratic traditions and the principle of the rule of law. The detention of a person who could have been summoned to give a statement in this manner contradicts the reality that justice must not leave room for suspicion.

Justice must be administered fairly and equally for everyone under all circumstances.''