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Former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunc Soyer was arrested Friday as part of an ongoing corruption investigation into the municipality, which has now led to the detention or arrest of numerous high-profile figures, including 35 individuals taken into custody earlier the same day.
The probe, launched by the Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office, centers on allegations of large-scale corruption involving IZBETON AS, a company affiliated with the municipality. Prosecutors allege that irregularities were committed through subcontractor companies working under IZBETON.
Authorities initiated the investigation following reports from the Court of Accounts, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and independent expert witnesses.
A detention order was issued for 157 individuals. As of Friday, 120 had been taken into custody.
Among the arrested or detained are prominent local political and administrative figures, including (Republican People's Party) CHP Izmir Provincial Chairman Senol Aslanoglu, former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality General Secretary Baris Karci, former IZBETON General Manager Heval Savas Kaya, and former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy General Secretary Ozgur Ozan Yilmaz.
Other notable figures detained in the operation include Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Deputy General Secretary Ulas Aydin, Buca Municipality Deputy Mayor Engin Guzel, Izmir Chamber of Commerce Council Member Caglar Kalkan, and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Esrefpasa Hospital Deputy Chief Physician Gaffar Karadogan.
The list also includes 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.
The arrests were carried out by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department of the Izmir Provincial Police Directorate.
Reacting to the arrests, main opposition CHP Deputy Chairman Murat Bakan, who oversees matters related to the Interior Ministry, confirmed the detention of Soyer and Aslanoglu via a post on X.
“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.”
CHP Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Deniz Yucel also commented, accusing the government of staging politically motivated operations: “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, speaking on pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV, labeled the investigation part of a wider campaign 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 said. “There is an operation against our organizations and provincial chairmen. These are shameful investigations.”
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