Operation at Ataşehir Municipality

Police from the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Investigation Branch have conducted an operation targeting Ataşehir Municipality. Search and seizure warrants are being executed at the municipality. As part of the investigation, detention warrants have been issued for 21 people, including Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel.

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A midnight 'corruption' operation was conducted targeting Ataşehir Municipality. It was reported that there are detention warrants for 21 people as part of the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and 18 people, including Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel, have been detained.

It was reported that those detained along with Adıgüzel include Deputy Mayors Oğuz Kaya and Orhan Aydoğdu, Financial Affairs Manager Mürteza Kutluk, and Chief of Staff Alpay Arslan.

The operation against Ataşehir Municipality was carried out as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. According to the statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, proceedings have been initiated against Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel, as well as certain department heads and personnel, on charges of "bribery," "establishing, managing, and being a member of an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," and "rigging tenders."

The following statements were included in the statement made by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office:

“Within the scope of the investigation numbered 2025/256622 conducted by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; an investigation has been initiated against the suspects for the crimes of “Bribery, Establishing, Managing, and Being a Member of an Organization for the Purpose of Committing a Crime, and Rigging Tenders” following reports that Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel, Deputy Mayors Birkan Birol Yıldız, Orhan Aydoğdu, and Oğuz Kaya, along with relevant department heads and personnel, received bribes regarding tender, zoning, and occupancy permit procedures.

During the investigation process; MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) reports and HTS (Historical Traffic Search) records belonging to the suspects were obtained, and findings were reached indicating that transactions were carried out in exchange for bribes in occupancy and building permit procedures. In this context, necessary technical work was carried out, witness and victim statements were taken, and the suspects' testimonies were obtained. As a result of the work carried out by the Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Financial Crimes Investigation Branch, the elements of the crime and the organizational structure were determined in detail.

In the examinations conducted; it was determined that bribes amounting to millions of dollars were received from companies operating within the borders of Ataşehir Municipality in exchange for building permits and occupancy procedures, and that in this process, permit procedures were carried out in exchange for bribes. Furthermore, it was determined that municipal officials and some company owners acted together, that bribe amounts were determined according to the nature of the projects, and that the bribes received were distributed according to the position and authority within the municipality.

In line with the evidence obtained, in order to decipher the activities of the criminal organization, seize evidence, and apprehend the suspects, a simultaneous search, seizure, and detention operation was carried out at 45 addresses in our province on 17.04.2026, and in this context, a total of 18 suspects were apprehended and detained, and a large number of digital materials were seized. Efforts to apprehend 2 fugitive individuals are ongoing. As with all types of crimes, investigations carried out by our Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to combat crimes against the Reliability and Functioning of Public Administration will continue meticulously and decisively.“

Detention warrants issued for 21 people

The individuals for whom detention warrants were issued and their positions are as follows:

1. Onursal Adıgüzel – Mayor of Ataşehir

2. Birkan Birol Yıldız – Deputy Mayor of Ataşehir

3. Oğuz Kaya – Deputy Mayor of Ataşehir

4. Orhan Aydoğdu – Deputy Mayor of Ataşehir

5. Mürteza Kutluk – Ataşehir Municipality Financial Affairs Manager

6. Alpay Arslan – Ataşehir Chief of Staff

7. Aysun Gökçen – Ataşehir Building Control Manager

8. Basri Onur Dedetaş – Ataşehir Licensing and Inspection Manager

9. Aslı Sevinç Afat – Ataşehir Municipality Architect

10. Nimet Karademir – Ataşehir Planning and Project Manager