The Muğla Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that detention warrants were issued for 35 individuals as part of an investigation into allegations that fraudulent tender documents and work experience certificates were prepared at the Milas Municipality.
According to the statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 29 suspects, including Milas Mayor Fevzi Topuz and his son Doruk Topuz, were detained in simultaneous operations conducted in 13 provinces on October 20.
It was stated that the investigation was launched following allegations of forgery regarding work experience certificates issued by the Milas Municipality to certain companies. The statement indicated that it was determined that 35 fraudulent tender documents and 33 work experience certificates were prepared on behalf of 34 different companies.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reported that expert examinations revealed that account numbers, tax identification numbers, and IBAN information in the application files were identical; that employee and salary information in Social Security Institution (SGK) service records showed similarities; and that there were traces of copying on some signatures and documents.
The statement reported that the total value of the tenders, which were shown as completed despite not being performed, amounted to 2 billion 579 million 555 thousand 355 TL. According to information and documents obtained from the Public Procurement Authority, it was noted that 8 companies participated in 25 public tenders using these documents, and the total value of the tenders in question was 3 billion 714 million 262 thousand 711 liras and 18 kuruş.
The suspects face charges of "establishing, managing, or being a member of an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "bribery," "rigging a tender," "qualified fraud by using public institutions as an intermediary," and "forgery of official documents."
The provinces where the operation was conducted were announced as Muğla, Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Elazığ, Hakkari, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Kilis, Kocaeli, Manisa, Van, and Ordu. It is understood that proceedings are ongoing regarding the 6 suspects who remain at large as part of the investigation.
News Source: 12punto
