Judicial process at Bursa Municipality: First recess in the trial of detained Mayor Mustafa Bozbey

The first hearing has begun in the trial of 63 defendants, including Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, who was arrested and suspended from office by a decision of the Ministry of Interior due to allegations dating back to his tenure as Mayor of Nilüfer. Bozbey, who is facing trial on charges of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "bribery," "laundering assets derived from crime," and "causing zoning pollution," faces up to 402 years in prison.

Before the hearing held at the Bursa 2nd High Criminal Court, intense arguments took place in the courthouse corridors.

"BARRICADE" CRISIS AT THE COURTHOUSE: LAWMAKERS DENIED ENTRY

A scuffle and argument broke out between security forces and the CHP delegation, who wanted to follow the hearing in front of the courtroom:

Following the instructions of the court panel, police barricades were set up, initially allowing only "one relative per defendant" into the hall.

CHP Bursa MPs Nurhayat Altaca Kayışoğlu and Hasan Öztürk, and CHP İstanbul MP Gökan Zeybek, who came to the courthouse to observe the trial, reacted when they were not allowed inside. MP Kayışoğlu expressed her reaction in front of the barricade, saying, "Is it acceptable to block a member of parliament and not let them into the courthouse? This is an unlawful order!"

After long and tense negotiations, CHP politicians and mayors were allowed inside, but in accordance with the strict instructions of the court panel, most journalists were not admitted to the courtroom.

Numerous political figures were present to observe this critical hearing, which has completely altered the balance of local government in Bursa.

The individuals present in the hall were:

Mustafa Bozbey's wife Seden Bozbey and relatives of the defendants,

CHP MPs Nurhayat Altaca Kayışoğlu, Hasan Öztürk, and Gökan Zeybek,

Suspended former CHP Bursa Provincial Chair Nihat Yeşiltaş,

Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın, Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir, and Mudanya Mayor Deniz Dalgıç.

HISTORY OF THE INVESTIGATION: HOW DID THE WAVES OF OPERATIONS BEGIN?

The case, which has shaken local government ranks and is being conducted by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, follows a very comprehensive detention and arrest process:

In the operation targeting the past administrative actions of Nilüfer Municipality, 57 suspects were detained, including Mustafa Bozbey, his wife S. Bozbey, his daughter S.G., his brothers R. Bozbey and E. Bozbey, as well as former municipal employees and numerous businesspeople alleged to have paid bribes. On April 4, 23 of these individuals, including Bozbey, were arrested.

On October 14, 2025, additional arrest warrants were issued within the scope of this new file for 7 people, including former Nilüfer Mayor Turgay Erdem, who was already in custody for a separate bribery and money laundering case. With the expanding file, the total number of detainees reached 37. Red notices and search efforts continue for two fugitive suspects (Ş.G. and T.K.).

"TRIAL ADJOURNED FOR RECESS"

In the first hearing of the trial, the court panel called for a recess after the roll call. His lawyer, Yücel Akbulut, made statements regarding the conditions in the courtroom and the political dimension of the case.

After the roll call was completed, the court panel adjourned the session, and Bozbey's lawyer, Yücel Akbulut, made striking statements in front of the courthouse. While arguing that the case is entirely "political," Akbulut harshly criticized the physical inadequacies of the courtroom.

"BARRICADES SET UP AGAINST LAWYERS AND THE PRESS, NO DESKS TO WORK ON"

Drawing attention to the inadequacy of the area chosen as the courtroom and the scuffle that occurred at the entrance, Lawyer Yücel Akbulut stated that the defense was obstructed:

"We experienced major problems at the beginning. Everyone, including lawyers, was kept waiting for minutes in a very narrow space. Lawyers are the most important pillar of the defense. Despite our intense demands, there were serious difficulties regarding entry, but entry was eventually granted."

"The place where the hearing is held is actually a conference hall. Our lawyer colleagues have thousands of pages of files and notes they are working on in front of them. It is their most natural legal right to want to sit side-by-side with their defendant clients to work. However, there was not even a desk in the hall where lawyers could place their files. We conveyed this objection and request, and the presiding judge finally accepted it."

"WOULD THIS CASE HAVE BEEN FILED IF HE HAD NOT WON THE METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY?"

Pointing to the timing of the investigation, Akbulut claimed that there was political engineering behind the case:

"Today, we are watching the trial of Bursa's elected Metropolitan Mayor, Mustafa Bozbey. However, the fundamental point we should consider is this; this process starts with an allegation of a crime dating back to 2014. In other words, we are talking about an event that occurred long before Mayor Mustafa was elected Metropolitan Mayor. The public needs to ask this question: If Mustafa Bozbey had not been elected Bursa Metropolitan Mayor, would this investigation have reached this stage? This is why we see the process as entirely political."

BOZBEY'S CURRENT STATUS: "HIS MORALE IS GOOD, A FATHER AND GRANDFATHER IS BEING TRIED FIRST"

Providing information about Mustafa Bozbey's situation in prison and before the hearing, Akbulut stated that his client's defense is ready:

"We did not have the opportunity to meet in the chaos of the hall today, but I visited him yesterday; his morale is quite good. He has meticulously prepared his defense. Of course, our primary expectation, as well as his, is for a decision to be made for him to be tried without arrest at this stage."

Source: Bursa Hakimiyet Newspaper, Ceren Sümbül

"It must never be forgotten that here in the courtroom, first a human being, then a father, a husband, and a grandfather is being tried. Immediately after that, there is the reality that the Metropolitan Mayor, who represents the will of the people of Bursa, is being tried."

Following the recess, the trial will continue with the defendants, primarily Mustafa Bozbey, making their initial defenses and beginning to testify before the judge.

News Source: 12punto