New allegations in bribery operation against Adana Metropolitan Municipality

Adana Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch teams conducted an operation yesterday (December 18) against Adana Metropolitan Municipality on charges of bid-rigging and bribery. 10 people, including chief advisor Mürüvet S., were detained in the operation.

THE TIMING OF THE OPERATION DREW ATTENTION

While the timing of this operation, conducted as the local elections approach, drew attention, 10 people, including chief advisor Mürüvet S., were detained as a result of the operation.

ALLEGATIONS OF ILLICIT GAIN

It was alleged that the 10 detained individuals obtained an illicit gain of 58 million TL by committing corruption through advertising announcements. It was claimed that 1 million TL in funds flowed in and out of chief advisor Mürüvet S.'s account from the advertising companies to which she awarded the tenders.

While it was alleged that tender specifications were provided to advertising firms in advance and that the tender specifications were prepared and delivered beforehand, it was also claimed that chief advisor Mürüvet S. had the advertising companies to which she awarded the tenders pay her home rent and cover the costs of various aesthetic surgeries on her body.

On the other hand, it was alleged that the detained suspects used fake invoices for advertising tenders and that funds flowed in and out of the suspects' personal accounts through the advertising firms.

“THERE IS NEVER ANYTHING ILLEGAL IN OUR MUNICIPALITIES”

Reacting to the operation conducted against the municipality before the elections, Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar had stated, “There is never anything illegal in our municipalities.”

Karalar said the following in his speech in front of the municipal building yesterday;

"The state's police are also our police; they are trying to fulfill the instructions they received. We are also trying to carry out this important duty properly by protecting the nation's money. No one has the power to discredit our mayors. We are performing our duty with the awareness of being worthy of the people and worthy of Atatürk. There is never anything illegal in our municipalities. There is no harm to the public. We did not come here to make money for others. Whatever the police and the prosecutor's office have requested from us, we have provided it in full, and we will continue to do so. There is nothing we are afraid of, and there never will be. I have been mayor for 10 years; there has never been an incident involving me or my staff. Coming to search the room of our female colleague with an armored vehicle (TOMA) as if coming to a safe house was not appropriate."

İMAMOĞLU: THE TIMING IS SIGNIFICANT

On the other hand, IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also said the following in a statement on his social media account following the operation conducted against Adana Metropolitan Municipality;

“Our Republican People's Party municipalities have been subject to more inspector audits in this period than ever before in history. Everything has been scrutinized for years, and no irregularities have been found.

The timing of the operation conducted against our Adana Metropolitan Municipality today is also significant and is clearly aimed at managing perception.

We stand with our Mayor Zeydan Karalar.”

News Source: İHA