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The police have launched a search for an Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) official who was reportedly abducted by unidentified individuals in Istanbul's Maltepe district, authorities said Wednesday.
Erhan Karaal, deputy general manager of IBB's Culture Inc., was allegedly kidnapped in front of his residence on Wednesday.
According to initial reports, Karaal was assaulted and forced into a vehicle by three unidentified individuals who got out of another car near his home in Maltepe.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to locate Karaal and identify and apprehend the suspects involved in the incident.
The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the alleged abduction following reports that Karaal had been taken by unidentified individuals.
As part of the investigation, prosecutors instructed police teams to locate the victim and detain those responsible.
Authorities said all necessary instructions had been issued and that the investigation is being conducted meticulously.
Karaal is among the defendants in the ongoing IBB trial, which stems from an investigation into the alleged "criminal organization led by Ekrem Imamoglu for financial gain." The case involves claims of tender irregularities across various IBB units.
The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, centers on allegations involving former Istanbul mayor Imamoglu, who was suspended from office following his arrest on corruption-related charges in March 2025.
The investigation into Karaal's reported abduction remains ongoing.
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