Operation at Etimesgut Municipality: Erdal Beşikçioğlu detained

Operations targeting CHP-run municipalities continue. 

An operation was carried out against the CHP-run Etimesgut Municipality in Ankara.

Within the scope of the operation, detention warrants were issued for 55 people.

52 people, including Etimesgut Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu, have been detained.

It was learned that searches were conducted at 56 addresses, 15 workplaces, and in 41 vehicles.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

A statement was issued by the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the investigation conducted into Etimesgut Municipality.

The statement included the following remarks:

"An investigation has been initiated by the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Bureau of Investigation for Smuggling, Narcotics, and Organized Crime, following allegations of irregularities in certain tenders held by Etimesgut Municipality, the preparation of forged documents, and the procurement of benefits in zoning and licensing processes related to parking rental transactions and construction projects.

Within the scope of the investigation; Court of Accounts reports, suspect statements obtained under effective remorse provisions, complainant statements, CİMER applications, audio and video recordings, MASAK reports, and HTS records and analyses have been examined in detail.

In line with the evidence obtained, an investigation is being conducted against the suspects for the crimes of: Establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, being a member of an established organization, embezzlement, bribery, extortion, rigging tenders, and rigging the performance of an act.

In this context, a simultaneous operation was conducted on July 30, 2026, in 9 provinces centered in Ankara, targeting a total of 55 suspects, including Etimesgut Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu, 42 of whom are municipal employees and 13 of whom are company officials.

As part of the operation carried out by the teams of the Ankara Provincial Police Department's Anti-Financial Crimes Branch, Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu and Deputy Mayors Taylan Özgüven, İhsan Bahri Bellek, and Atilla Akyürek were detained.

Furthermore, within the scope of the operation; detention procedures were applied to the Social Assistance Affairs Manager, Financial Services Manager, Zoning and Urbanization Manager, Support Services Manager, Municipal Police Chief, Real Estate and Expropriation Manager, Tender Chief of the Directorate of Technical Affairs, the Mayor's advisor and bodyguard, personnel serving on tender and inspection acceptance commissions, engineers, the general manager and board members of the municipal subsidiary ETİMKENT A.Ş., municipal personnel and former municipal employees, some political party administrators and municipal council members, company officials doing business with the municipality, and a business agent.

Within the scope of the investigation, proceedings have also been initiated against officials of various companies evaluated to have business relations with the municipality, primarily FMT Global, Kule Medikal, AER Group, Yosun Ambalaj, Standart Katı Atık, TBD Group A.Ş., Seka Tıp Merkezi, HFO İnşaat, and Ritim Bilgisayar.

52 people on the suspect list have been detained, and search and seizure operations are being carried out at 56 residences, 15 workplaces, and in 41 vehicles belonging to the suspects; the seized documents, digital materials, and other evidence are being examined. It is planned that the detained suspects will be referred to the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office after their procedures are completed."

News Source: 12punto