Ministry announces: 5 mayors suspended from duty

The Ministry of Interior announced that Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen, Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit, Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer, and Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Murat Güneş have been suspended from duty as a temporary measure following their arrest as part of ongoing investigations.

The Ministry of Interior announced that four mayors and one deputy mayor have been suspended from duty following their arrest as part of investigations conducted against them. In its statement, the Ministry shared the details of the decisions taken regarding Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen, Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Murat Güneş, Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, and Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer.

DECISIONS REGARDING ÖZMEN AND GÜNEŞ

According to the statement, Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen was arrested by the Ankara 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace on October 5, 2026, with inquiry number 2026/930, on charges of “membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes, accepting bribes, and rigging public tenders.”

It was stated that Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Murat Güneş was arrested by the İstanbul Anadolu 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on October 5, 2026, with inquiry number 2026/966, on charges of “membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes and accepting bribes.”

THREE MAYORS ARRESTED IN MERSIN

The Ministry reported that Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit was arrested by the Mersin 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on October 5, 2026, with inquiry number 2026/1145, on charges of “accepting bribes, establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, extortion by coercion, and fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations.”

It was announced that Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and Union of Municipalities of Türkiye President Vahap Seçer was arrested by the Mersin 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on October 6, 2026, with inquiry number 2026/1150, on charges of “forgery of official documents, rigging public tenders, establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, and fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations.”

It was noted that Mezitli Mayor and Eastern Mediterranean Union of Municipalities President Ahmet Serkan Tuncer was arrested by the Mersin 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on October 6, 2026, with inquiry number 2026/1148, on charges of “membership in an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes, fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations, giving bribes, extortion by coercion, accepting bribes, rigging public tenders, and establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes.”

SUSPENDED AS A “TEMPORARY MEASURE”

The statement, which also included the legal basis for the suspension decisions, said, “The aforementioned mayors and deputy mayor have been suspended from duty by the Ministry of Interior as a temporary measure in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393.”

The Ministry also announced that Vahap Seçer has been suspended from his position as President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, and Ahmet Serkan Tuncer has been suspended from his position as President of the Eastern Mediterranean Union of Municipalities.

ELECTIONS IN ATAŞEHIR AND EYÜPSULTAN ON OCTOBER 10

The election for deputy mayor in the Eyüpsultan and Ataşehir municipalities will be held on October 10.

News Source: 12punto