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Fifteen suspects were detained on Friday in connection with the unauthorized disclosure of personal data and location information from 4.7 million users of the "Istanbul Senin" municipal application, Istanbul prosecutors said.
The arrests were part of an organized crime investigation focused on an alleged criminal enterprise linked to former Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, according to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime Investigation Bureau.
The investigation revealed that personal data and location information from 4.7 million users of the "Istanbul Senin" application were unlawfully transferred to two different countries.
Additionally, personal data and location information from 3.7 million users were put up for sale on the dark web, according to prosecutors.
Investigators also found that ballot box data from 11 million citizens was processed and disclosed outside the system through a sub-application called "IMM Hanem" contained within the Istanbul Senin application.
The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, is examining an alleged criminal enterprise linked to Mayor Imamoglu. The probe remains ongoing.
The 15 detainees include 13 suspects identified as holding administrator positions in the programs and recognized as having connections to alleged "organization leaders." These individuals held positions as administrators and other officials in six separate companies, including subsidiaries of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
Additionally, two suspects were identified as having participated in the issuance of fraudulent invoices by the firms of the reported fugitive "organization leader", Murat Gulibrahimoglu.
All 15 suspects face charges related to "unlawfully obtaining personal data, violations of the Tax Procedure Law and membership in an alleged criminal enterprise connected to Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu," according to prosecutors.
Simultaneous operations were conducted against all 15 suspects, resulting in their detention.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Friday that 189 suspects were apprehended over one week in cybercrime operations coordinated by the General Directorate of Police Cyber Crimes Department and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
The coordinated operations, centered in 17 provinces, targeted illegal gambling, qualified fraud, online child exploitation and harassment, according to Yerlikaya's statement.
"Of the 189 suspects apprehended, 83 were ordered held in detention, judicial control measures were applied to 47, and proceedings continue for the remaining suspects," Yerlikaya said.
"Suspects were found to have defrauded citizens using themes of 'product sales, rental vacation homes and investment partnerships,' possessed obscene images of children, operated illegal gambling and betting operations, facilitated illegal money transfers and promoted such activities, and gained unauthorized access to citizens' mobile banking accounts to obtain illicit profits," Yerlikaya said in a statement.
The operations were conducted in Adana, Adiyaman, Amasya, Bitlis, Duzce, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Nevsehir, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Sivas, Tekirdag, Van and Yalova provinces, with investigations initiated by prosecutors in each jurisdiction.
"We pursue those attempting to defraud our citizens both in the physical world and the cyber world through our virtual patrols. We urge citizens to be more cautious and to immediately contact the 112 Emergency Call Center if they suspect illegal activity," Yerlikaya said.
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