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A large-scale corruption investigation into the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has resulted in the detention of 120 suspects, including former Izmir Mayor Tunc Soyer and Senol Aslanoglu, head of the Izmir Provincial Chapter of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
The charges include "interference with a tender and performance of duties" and "qualified fraud."
The investigation, initiated by the Izmir Public Prosecutor's Office, focuses on allegations of corruption within IZBETON AS, a company affiliated with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which allegedly facilitated the corruption through subcontractor companies.
The inquiry was launched based on reports from the Court of Accounts, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and expert witnesses.
As a result, a detention order was issued for 157 individuals, with 120 already taken into custody.
Among the detained are former Izmir Mayor Soyer, CHP Izmir Provincial President Aslanoglu, former Izmir General Secretary Baris Karci, former IZBETON General Manager Heval Savas Kaya, and other prominent local figures.
The Financial Crimes Investigation Department of the Provincial Police Directorate conducted the operation, detaining several prominent figures alongside Soyer and Aslanoglu.
Other detainees include former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality General Secretary Baris Karci, Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Deputy General Secretary Ulas Aydin, and Buca Municipality Deputy Mayor Engin Guzel.
The list also encompasses former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy General Secretary Ozgur Ozan Yilmaz, Izmir Chamber of Commerce Council Member Caglar Kalkan, and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Esrefpasa Hospital Deputy Chief Physician Gaffar Karadogan.
Additional detainees include IZSU General Manager Gurkan Erdogan, Bayrakli Municipality Deputy Mayor Mehmet Hanifi Mert Yilmaz, CHP Bornova District Deputy Chairman Haydar Izgin, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy General Secretary Ovunc Ozgen, and F. Erkol, son of CHP Ankara Provincial Chairman Umit Erkol.
In response to the detentions, CHP deputy chairman responsible for the Interior Ministry, Murat Bakan, announced Soyer's detention through his social media account, stating that Aslanoglu was also detained.
"We woke up to another dawn operation today. In Izmir, our former Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunc Soyer, senior bureaucrats from his term, and our Provincial Chairman Senol Aslanoglu were detained at first light," Bakan wrote.
"We are facing a process similar to what happened in Istanbul," he added.
CHP Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Deniz Yucel commented on the operation, saying, "Dawn operations do not end. Character assassination is being carried out against people who could go and give statements if called for testimony."
CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Basarir criticized the investigation during a television appearance on pro-opposition Halk TV, calling it part of a series of "perception operations" by the ruling party.
"We have been unable to wake up to bright mornings for a long time. One of the ruling party's perception operations has begun in Izmir," Basarir stated, adding: "There is an operation against our organizations and provincial chairmen. These are shameful investigations."
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