The 49 people detained in the investigation into allegations of irregularities at Çukurova Municipality in Adana have been referred to the courthouse following their processing by the gendarmerie.
Among those detained as part of the investigation conducted by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office are Çukurova Mayor Emrah Kozay, former Mayor Soner Çetin, and 4 deputy mayors.
The investigation was launched following allegations that irregularities were committed in tenders and direct procurements made by the municipality, and that the "exemption" provision in Article 3/g of the Public Procurement Law was used improperly in certain purchases made through a joint-stock company affiliated with the municipality.
The file also alleges that contractors who received work from the municipality paid bribes in exchange for progress payments and that some municipal personnel were paid salaries despite not actually going to work. The investigation is being conducted under the charges of "establishing, managing, and being a member of an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," "bribery," "qualified fraud," and "rigging a tender."
In the operation organized by the Provincial Gendarmerie Command's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Branch teams against 51 suspects, 44 people were initially detained, and the number later rose to 49. The suspects, whose procedures were completed, were taken to the Forensic Medicine Unit for health checks and were subsequently referred to the courthouse.
It was reported that efforts are ongoing to apprehend 2 suspects for whom detention warrants have been issued. It was stated that the investigation file includes an expert report prepared on tender and direct procurement documents from 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as other evidence obtained.
News Source: 12punto
