The 'KİPTAŞ' tender detail in the IMM investigation: Are the tenders from the AKP years being ignored?

As part of the investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime Investigation Bureau into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), the municipal subsidiaries KİPTAŞ and İSFALT have also been included in the file. In a letter sent by the prosecutor's office to these two companies, it was requested that information and documents be submitted only for all tenders and projects carried out from March 31, 2019, onwards.

The fact that the investigation only covers the current administration's term has brought about a harsh reaction from the opposition. Opposition parties described this step as a "biased investigation conducted with political motives."

KİPTAŞ TENDERS AWARDED DURING AKP YEARS UNDER SCRUTINY

At the center of the debate are the high-value tenders awarded by KİPTAŞ, particularly during the AKP administration. While it is noteworthy that no investigation is being conducted regarding the period before 2019, some past tenders have returned to the agenda.

CANDIDATE FROM AKP RECEIVED TENDER FROM KİPTAŞ

According to a report by Halk TV, Ilgın İnşaat, owned by İbrahim Halil Yanmaz, who was an AKP parliamentary candidate nominee for Şanlıurfa in the 2011 general elections, received the "Execution of Remaining Construction Works for the Urban Transformation Project" tender from KİPTAŞ in 2018. The value of the tender was announced as 265 million 562 thousand TL. This tender was conducted using the negotiated procedure, which is frequently criticized in the public eye for hindering competition.

KIZILAY PRESIDENT IS THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY THAT RECEIVED A KİPTAŞ TENDER

Another notable name is Ahmet Talha Duman, who is stated to be the President of the Başakşehir Kızılay Youth Branch. DMN Mimarlık Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, owned by Duman, received the tender for the Superstructure Construction Works of the Urban Transformation Project in Block 3562, Parcel 2 in Beyoğlu on January 10, 2019, for 40 million 567 thousand TL.

The same company also undertook the ground improvement work in the same block and parcel on October 12, 2018, for 4 million 37 thousand TL. Not stopping there, the company also received the Metris Barracks Temporary Facility Construction tender on February 12, 2018, for 16 million 577 thousand TL. It was learned that DMN Mimarlık also received tenders from AKP-run municipalities such as Ümraniye and Esenler.

NAS İNŞAAT'S ACTIVITIES DURING THE AKP YEARS ARE NOTABLE

Nas İnşaat, which received two major tenders from KİPTAŞ in 2015 and 2016, is one of the most notable companies of the AKP era. The company won the tender opened within the scope of the urban transformation project to be built in the İsmetpaşa neighborhood of Bayrampaşa, together with İmaj Altyapı Üst Yapı. The tender, worth 237 million 130 thousand TL, was also awarded via the negotiated procedure.

Furthermore, Nas İnşaat undertook the construction of 300 residences and landscaping work in Çatalca together with Ultra Teknoloji Sanayi. Six firms applied for this tender, and the bids of four were deemed valid.

The company's founder, Esat Ulu, has many photographs with prominent figures of the AKP. Although the company received tenders from public institutions in the past, it stood out with the tenders it received from the IMM under AKP management. The firm, which entered the concordat process in 2019, could not emerge from its financial bottleneck as its request was rejected by a court decision in 2022.

MINISTRY INSPECTORS HAD ALSO DISPLAYED A SIMILAR ATTITUDE

The investigation process into the IMM is not limited to the prosecutor's office. Ministry of Interior inspectors had previously displayed a similar attitude. The inspectors initially requested information to examine the tender documents of 14 companies affiliated with the IMM. However, upon realizing that a significant portion of these companies had also received large-scale tenders during the AKP era, the inspectors sent a new letter shortly thereafter, requesting that only documents from after 2019 be submitted.

CRITICISM OF 'RETROACTIVE SCOPE' IN INVESTIGATION

Opposition parties and many legal experts argue that limiting such investigations only to the current term is a legally and politically incomplete approach. It is emphasized that examining past practices during audit and investigation processes is necessary for the public interest.