Third wave of operations against IMM... Why did the gendarmerie take the place of the police in the operations? 'Mole' allegations from pro-government media

The operations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), which began with the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19, have moved to the 3rd phase. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched a new investigation into the IMM in the early hours of the morning.

In this third wave of operations, detention warrants were issued for 22 people, including Taner Çetin, the Head of the IMM Press, Broadcasting and Public Relations Department.

In the statement made by the prosecutor's office, it was alleged that Taner Çetin organized tenders for companies close to him to win and received bribes from these firms.

GENDARMERIE INSTEAD OF POLICE

One of the most striking details of the third wave of operations was that the operation was carried out by the gendarmerie, not the police. The first two waves of operations, in which İmamoğlu was detained, were carried out by police units. However, the security unit involved in the latest operation in the center of Istanbul was the gendarmerie.

Under normal procedure, the gendarmerie operates in areas outside municipal boundaries. The fact that this operation, which took place in the city center, was assigned to the gendarmerie was interpreted as an extraordinary situation.

MOLE SUSPICION ON THE AGENDA

The allegation of a “mole within the police force” has come to the agenda again as the reason for involving the gendarmerie. These allegations have been frequently voiced recently, especially in media outlets close to the government.

SON TV had previously reported on allegations that information was leaked to the IMM from some state institutions and claimed that steps regarding the investigations were conveyed to İmamoğlu in advance.

SABAH NEWSPAPER: “WHO IS İMAMOĞLU’S MOLE IN THE POLICE?”

Mahmut Övür, a columnist for the pro-government Sabah Newspaper, also raised the allegation in his article dated April 29 that someone within the Istanbul Police was leaking information to İmamoğlu.

In his article, Övür stated, “Is someone from within the state, specifically from the Istanbul Police, tipping off İmamoğlu? Even a jammer cannot save him.”

REACTION FROM CHP: “COULD THEY NOT CONVINCE THE POLICE?”

The fact that the operation against the IMM was carried out by the gendarmerie was also met with reaction from the CHP wing.

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın made the following statement on his social media account:

“It is no coincidence that only the IMM is constantly targeted among 1,400 municipalities. It is a first for the prosecutor's office to use the gendarmerie instead of the police. Does this mean the investigation is being divided? Who will prepare the summary of proceedings? The answers will emerge.”