18 detained in second wave of Istanbul corruption probe

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has been subjected to a second wave of a corruption operation, resulting in the detention of 18 out of 30 suspects who were referred to court with a request for arrest.

Among those detained are Cevat Kaya, the brother-in-law of former IMM Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Bakirkoy Municipality Vice President Ali Riza Akyuz, and security officer Caglar Turkmen, who turned off the security cameras of the hotel where Ekrem Imamoglu held a meeting.

Ongoing corruption investigation against IMM

The corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality continues. In the second wave of the operation, 30 suspects were detained and brought to court. The court has decided to request the detention of these individuals.

Some of the detained suspects hold high-ranking positions within IMM and its affiliated entities.

18 suspects detained

The on-duty judge at the Istanbul Sulh Criminal Court has ordered the detention of several high-profile individuals, including Melih Gecek, General Manager of ISTTELKOM SA; Naim Erol Ozguner, Head of the IMM Information Technology Department; Bakirkoy Municipality Vice President and IMM Council Member Ali Riza Akyuz; and security officer Caglar Turkmen, who were involved in the security camera incident with Ekrem Imamoglu. Other suspects who have been detained are from various departments of IMM and its subsidiaries.

In addition to the arrests, several other individuals have been placed under house arrest, including Zeynep Ayten Gozdem Ongun, wife of Murat Ongun, and others linked to the case.