Released from custody, his shopping mall rises: Full-throttle support for the confessing contractor

Contractor Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who was arrested on allegations of being a "criminal organization leader" as part of a bribery and corruption investigation into the Beşiktaş Municipality, has been released after benefiting from the effective remorse law. Aktaş was released the night before last after becoming a confessor in the investigation.

However, his release was not merely a personal gain of freedom. At the same time, the massive fuel and shopping mall project in Istanbul's Gaziosmanpaşa district, which has caused significant public debate, has also gained momentum.

PARTNER IN EUROPE'S LARGEST GAS STATION

The Elif Petrol Opet station, of which Aktaş is a partner, is located along the TEM highway. The facility, which holds the title of the largest fuel station in Europe with a total of 76 pumps, has already begun operations.

Construction of the shopping mall building rising right next to the station is also continuing at full speed. The construction site has currently reached the third floor.

LICENSE CRISIS RESOLVED IN THE TBMM AT 01:30 AM

For a long time, the CHP-led Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and the Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality did not grant zoning and license permits for the project in question. However, the process changed with the intervention of the central government.

As brought to the agenda by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, the authority was transferred to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Subsequently, a special clause was added to the Village Law being discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) around 01:30 on the night of November 18, 2024, and permission was granted for the shopping mall construction.

With the construction permit, all obstacles regarding the project were removed.

COMPANY PARTNERS ARE AKP FIGURES

Names close to the AKP stand out in the management of Güven Asfalt, one of the firms behind the fuel and shopping mall construction.

One of the company's partners, Hayrettin Coşkun, is a former AKP Ankara Provincial Vice Chairman. The other partner, Gürkan Dölekli, is known as a relative of the former AKP Pasinler Mayor Ahmet Dölekli.

It is stated that another company wishing to develop a similar project in the same region has been unable to obtain a license.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL: "THEY MADE THE TBMM A TOOL"

CHP leader Özgür Özel, in his statement at his party's group meeting, emphasized that the shopping mall permit was issued with a special clause added to the TBMM at the last minute, and addressed Minister of Urbanization Murat Kurum as follows:

"They made the TBMM a tool for a law tailored to an individual with glory and honor. Where do you stand in this business?"

REPORTER FORCED TO DELETE PHOTOS

Sözcü reporter Ali Macit went to the area where the gas station is located to see and document the construction on-site. Security guards intervened while he was taking photos of the shopping mall building.

Two guards, who were carrying batons, forced Macit to delete the photos he had taken. The guards stated, "This is private property. There is a strict instruction from all partners, including Aziz İhsan Aktaş, that no images can be taken from inside."