BREAKING NEWS... Indictment prepared against Kartal Mayor: Prison sentence requested!

In the indictment prepared by the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Special Investigation Bureau against 21 people, including Kartal Mayor Gökhan Yüksel, it is alleged that 44 municipal properties were leased irregularly between 2019 and 2021. The indictment requests that 19 defendants, including Yüksel, be sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 months to 3 years and 6 months for 'chain-linked misconduct in office,' while two other defendants face prison sentences ranging from 6 months to 2 years.

ALLEGATION OF IRREGULAR TENDERS

The indictment states that the properties were leased in violation of Article 51 of the State Tender Law and that all tenders were conducted with only a single participant, lacking a competitive environment. It was emphasized that while contractors were provided with advantages through nominal rent increases, the municipality was prevented from generating higher rental income from the properties, thereby causing public loss.

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR INSPECTION REPORT IN THE INDICTMENT

The inspection report prepared by the Ministry of Interior as part of the investigation was also included. The report stated that unlawful practices were identified in the leasing processes of properties belonging to Kartal Municipality. Findings such as conducting tenders through the bargaining method, preventing a competitive environment, and causing public loss were highlighted.

The indictment states that Mayor Gökhan Yüksel signed many tender approval documents in his capacity as the 'authorizing officer,' thereby approving tenders conducted through unlawful bargaining methods. It is alleged that Yüksel paved the way for irregularities in the tender processes through these actions.

DEFENSES NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

It was noted that the suspects, whose statements were taken, denied the accusations and requested a decision of non-prosecution; however, these defenses were not credited as they were evaluated as attempts to evade criminal liability, contradicting the existing evidence.

The indictment requests prison sentences ranging from 10 months to 3 years and 6 months for 19 defendants, including Yüksel, for 'chain-linked misconduct in office,' while prison sentences ranging from 6 months to 2 years were requested for the other 2 defendants for the crime of 'misconduct in office.'

News Source: 12punto