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Authorities detained 40 suspects, including Beyoglu District Mayor Inan Guney, in an expanding corruption investigation targeting Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) officials, with prosecutors pursuing charges ranging from criminal organization membership to bribery and bid-rigging.
The detentions come as the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues its investigation into suspects, including former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested and subsequently suspended from his IBB presidency position.
Prosecutors are investigating the suspects on charges of "being a criminal organization manager," "criminal organization membership," "extortion," "bribery," "aggravated fraud," "unlawfully obtaining personal data," and "bid-rigging."
During the investigation, authorities identified 35 suspects, including Guney, who allegedly participated in multiple fraud schemes within Media Inc., Culture Inc. and IBB operations.
These individuals were reportedly connected to suspect Murat Ongun and fugitive suspect Emrah Bagdatli.
Police teams identified nine additional suspects operating within what investigators describe as the profit-driven criminal organization's social media structure, allegedly functioning under Ongun's control and maintaining confirmed contacts with Bagdatli.
Detention orders were issued for 44 suspects whose identities were confirmed during the investigation. In simultaneous police operations, 40 suspects were detained, including Beyoglu Mayor Guney, while four remain at large.
The investigation continues as authorities pursue the remaining suspects and build their case against what prosecutors allege is a criminal organization operating within Istanbul's municipal government structure.
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