Number of detentions rises in İzmir investigation

The number of people detained as part of the corruption and irregularity investigation into the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has reached 130. Former Mayor Tunç Soyer and many municipal bureaucrats face charges of "rigging bids" and "qualified fraud."

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Number of detentions rises in İzmir investigation

A new operation has been launched under the coordination of Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Necati Kayaközü, who is responsible for the Terror and Organized Crime Bureau and the Organized Crime Bureau of the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, as part of a large-scale investigation into the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and its affiliated organizations. Teams from the Financial Crimes Investigation Branch took action early yesterday morning.

DETENTION ORDERS ISSUED FOR 157 PEOPLE

The investigation is looking into allegations of corruption and irregularities involving İZBETON A.Ş. and various cooperatives. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued detention orders for a total of 157 people. While 126 people were detained on the first day of the operation, this number rose to 130 on the second day.

FAMILIAR NAMES AMONG THOSE DETAINED

There are many notable names among those detained. These include:

Former İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer

CHP İzmir Provincial Chair Şenol Aslanoğlu

Former İZBETON General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya

İZSU General Manager Gürkan Erdoğan

Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Övünç Özgen

Former Secretary General Barış Karcı

Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Ulaş Aydın

Buca Deputy Mayor Engin Güzel

İzmir Chamber of Commerce Assembly Member Çağlar Kalkan

CHP Bornova District Deputy Chair Haydar İzgin

Fırat Erkol, son of CHP Ankara Provincial Chair Ümit Erkol

Theater artist and former İZBETON board member Yücel Erten

İZSİAD President Hüseyin Cengiz

Eşrefpaşa Hospital Deputy Chief Physician Gaffar Karadoğan

Bayraklı Deputy Mayor Mehmet Hanifi Mert Yılmaz

SERIOUS CHARGES: BID RIGGING AND QUALIFIED FRAUD

It has been learned that the detained suspects are facing charges based on Court of Accounts reports, inspections by civil service inspectors, audit reports from the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Inspection Board reports, and expert findings.