Six drivers arrested at Beşiktaş Municipality

The investigation, which began after Aziz İhsan Aktaş accused CHP mayors and benefited from effective remorse provisions, has resulted in the arrest of six drivers employed by the Beşiktaş Municipality.

Detained on August 8 and referred to the courthouse, these individuals were arrested by the criminal judgeship of peace on charges of "laundering assets derived from crime."

Those arrested include Mehmet Ataş, Mert Çolak, and Uğur Uçak, who are drivers for Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat; Kaan Şengül, the driver for his ex-wife Derya Özhan; Harun Tuzcu, the driver for Akpolat's brother; and Ekin Kaya, the driver for his wife, Yeşim Akpolat. These individuals were arrested and sent to prison as part of the investigation conducted in line with Aktaş's statements.

DETAILS EMERGE

Meanwhile, details of the arrest decision issued by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace have emerged. The court's decision stated that Mehmet A., Mert Ç., and Uğur U. served as drivers for the suspect Rıza Akpolat; Kaan Ş. for Akpolat's ex-wife Derya Ö.; Harun T. for Akpolat's sister Elif A.; and Ekin K. for Akpolat's wife, Y. Akpolat. The decision noted that the drivers were overseen by Taner Ç., who, until his own arrest, was the nominal company manager for Akpolat but held a passive status, having been given an office at the municipality instead of working at the company. It was reported that Taner Ç. abused the municipality's authority to manage a portion of the funds collected unfairly from citizens on behalf of Akpolat.

The court's decision recorded that Taner Ç. used these funds primarily to cover the vacation, travel, private expenses, rent, and dues of Akpolat and his family members, depositing these funds into the suspects' accounts before transferring them to the relevant parties. The decision further stated that a list containing some of the Beşiktaş Municipality's unofficial expenditures, including flight and accommodation costs, was seized, and that the total value of hotel and flight expenses covered by the municipality reached millions of liras in just a short period, exceeding 600 thousand dollars between February and August 2024.

News Source: 12punto