In the district of Çeşme in İzmir, 10 out of 12 suspects detained as part of an investigation into "bribery, extortion, and forming a criminal organization" at the municipality have been arrested. Among those arrested are Çeşme Deputy Mayor Emre Can Durmaz and three acting directors.
It was reported that the suspects were referred to the duty magistrate following their procedures at the courthouse as part of the investigation coordinated by the Çeşme Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Former Çeşme Deputy Mayor Onur Gülin and ÇEŞTUR office clerk Deniz Songül Yalçın were released under judicial control conditions, including a travel ban and a signature requirement.
INVESTIGATION DEEPENED FOLLOWING TIP-OFF ABOUT DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION
It was stated that the investigation was deepened following a tip-off on October 5 that some documents belonging to Çeşme Municipality were being burned and destroyed by a cleaning worker. In the investigation into the incident, where teams from the Çeşme District Gendarmerie Command caught the suspects in the act, it was determined that the instruction to destroy the documents was given by Acting Director of Zoning and Urbanization Buğçe Sağlamer.
Upon the assessment that evidence could be tampered with, teams from the İzmir Provincial Gendarmerie Command's Anti-Terrorism (TEM) Branch conducted a simultaneous operation across İzmir on October 7 at 06:30. A large number of digital materials and documents were seized during searches of the suspects' residences, workplaces, and offices at the municipality.
WHATSAPP CORRESPONDENCE AND BANK RECEIPT IN THE FILE
It was noted that secret video recordings, WhatsApp correspondence, and money transfer receipts included in the investigation file are among the evidence regarding the alleged bribery mechanism. According to the allegations in the file, 2.5 times the legal fee was demanded from a citizen, and the money was directed to the personal account of a staff member who was allegedly used as the municipality's "cashier."
In the conversations recorded by the whistleblower, it was alleged that money was bargained for the approval of documents such as contracts and agreements. It was reported that in the conversation, a municipal staff member used the phrase, "It is the director's clear decision, they set this condition," regarding the requested amount.
According to the records reflected in the file, it was stated that ÇEŞTUR staff member Aziz Metin sent the IBAN number belonging to Office Management Clerk Aydın Aydemir to the citizen via WhatsApp. It was alleged that pressure was applied for the money to be deposited with the message, "The director is going to run away, the cashier's office will close, brother, what did you do?"
It was recorded in the phone conversations that a total of 70,000 lira was requested, with 50,000 lira to be paid in cash or to an account, and 20,000 lira as a hotel fee. It was stated that upon the citizen saying, "I cannot give it in cash, send an IBAN," the payment was made via IBAN, and the receipt was forwarded to the suspects with the message, "I sent 70,000 TL."
DEPUTY MAYOR AND ACTING DIRECTORS ARRESTED
Among the suspects referred to the Çeşme Courthouse after their procedures at the Gendarmerie, Çeşme Deputy Mayor Emre Can Durmaz, Acting Director of Zoning and Urbanization Buğçe Sağlamer, Acting Director of Technical Affairs Furkan Yiğit, and Acting Director of Real Estate and Expropriation Çağlayan Bingöl were arrested.
ÇEŞTUR office clerk Aziz Metin, office management clerk Aydın Aydemir, civil engineer Okan Aktaş, business owner Yücel Güngör, pension owner Metin Akpınar, and real estate agent Şahin Özer were the other suspects arrested. The 10 people were sent to the Aliağa Şakran Closed Penal Execution Institution.
It was learned that the judicial process regarding the accusations mentioned in the investigation is ongoing.
News Source: 12punto
