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Twelve suspects were detained on Friday as part of an investigation into the alleged “Imamoglu criminal organization for financial gain” over claims of irregularities in tenders carried out by units of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB).
The investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into the alleged organization linked to former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was suspended from office following his arrest over corruption allegations in March 2025, is ongoing.
According to findings by teams from the Financial Crimes Investigation Department of the Istanbul Police Department, irregularities were identified in procedures and transactions related to six tenders conducted by the European Side Road Maintenance and Repair Directorate under the IBB Road Maintenance and Infrastructure Coordination Department, as well as the Electronic Systems Directorate under the Information Processing Department.
Following the investigation, police carried out simultaneous operations at addresses in Istanbul, Kirklareli and Trabzon, detaining 12 suspects.
The suspects were taken to police headquarters for processing.
In a statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said investigations were launched into allegations that tenders conducted by the IBB Road Maintenance and Repair Directorate and the Electronic Systems Directorate were manipulated through what prosecutors described as an unlawfully designed tender scheme linked to an alleged criminal organization led by Imamoglu.
The statement said detention warrants were issued for 13 suspects, adding that 12 were detained while one suspect was determined to be abroad.
Imamoglu has been imprisoned for more than a year and faces multiple corruption-related charges tied to alleged municipal tender irregularities and financial misconduct.
He is currently on trial alongside 413 co-defendants and faces a cumulative prison sentence of up to 2,430 years if convicted.
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