The 200 defendants appeared before a judge for the first time yesterday as part of an indictment prepared regarding allegations that a criminal organization, allegedly led by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, organized tender processes by bribing mayors, including detained Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, detained Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, detained Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, detained Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, detained Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, and Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, who was released and reinstated to his post.
Recording detected in the courtroom
The hearing, held by the Istanbul 1st High Criminal Court at the Marmara Penal Execution Institutions Campus Hall No. 1 in Silivri, was attended by defendants, lawyers, members of the press, and numerous political figures in the audience. During the trial, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation to identify suspects after it was determined that individuals had recorded audio and video and shared it on social media.
Instructions given to the police
In the investigation launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for the crime of 'unauthorized recording or transmission of audio or video during investigation and prosecution proceedings,' instructions were given to the Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Cyber Crimes Branch to identify the individuals.
News Source: 12punto
