Third Wave Operation in IMM: Bribery, Tender and Financial Crimes Investigation Board Reports Led to Detentions

Detention orders issued for 22 people in third wave operation
A new operation was carried out against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) as part of the corruption investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. As of this morning, detention warrants have been issued for 22 people in the third phase of the investigation. It was reported that among those detained was the IMM Press and Broadcasting Department Head Taner Çetin.
 
 
Background of the investigation: İmamoğlu and the executives were arrested
The investigation was first launched on March 19, and many municipal administrators were detained, along with the then-IBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu and some administrators were arrested and suspended from their posts on March 23. In the second wave of operations, 52 people were detained, 18 of whom were arrested. Among those arrested were Dilek İmamoğlu’s older brother Cevat Kaya, Bakırköy Municipality Deputy Mayor Ali Rıza Akyüz, and hotel attendant Çağlar Türkmen, who allegedly turned off the security camera.
 
Taner Çetin accused of bribery and irregular tenders
There are serious allegations against Taner Çetin, one of the names at the center of the corruption investigation. It has been alleged that Çetin has been in contact with Ekrem İmamoğlu since his time at Beylikdüzü Municipality and that he committed various irregularities at Medya A.Ş. and Kültür A.Ş. under Murat Ongun.
 
According to the investigation file, Taner Çetin organized tenders for companies close to him and obtained financial gains from these companies in exchange for bribes. It is alleged that he acquired movable and immovable assets with the income he obtained.
 
MASAK reports draw attention
The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reports indicated that the financing of the purchases made by Taner Çetin was provided by the companies that received work from Medya A.Ş. and Kültür A.Ş. It was stated that money was also transferred to other employees of the relevant companies through the same companies.
 
Detention, search and asset seizure warrants were issued for 22 people named in the investigation on charges such as bribery, extortion, qualified fraud, bid rigging and unlawful acquisition of personal data.
 
 
 
Source: CUMHA - CUMHURS NEWS AGENCY