Authorities detained 22 individuals in a Tuesday morning (December 23) operation targeting Istanbul’s Şile district on the city’s Black Sea coast. The operation targets alleged bribery and corruption in the opposition-controlled district.
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| 22 officials detained in Istanbul’s Şile municipality 22 officials detained in Istanbul’s Şile municipality 22 officials detained in Istanbul’s Şile municipality Authorities detained 22 individuals in a Tuesday morning (December 23) operation targeting Istanbul’s Şile district on the city’s Black Sea coast. The operation targets alleged bribery and corruption in the opposition-controlled district. Tuesday’s operation is the second to target Şile, following the July 10th arrest of the district mayor Özgür Kabadayı for alleged financial crimes. Kabadayı was among six municipal officials arrested in July’s operation. One official from Şile, Ali Şafak, is accused of accepting a 20,000 Euro bribe in exchange for awarding a construction tender. Arrested district mayor Özgür Kabadayı said in a recent statement that he was unaware of the alleged irregularities taking place at the Şile municipality, and that the crimes related to the awarding of tenders fell under the jurisdiction of other officials. Kabadayı, along with four other officials from Şile, have been imprisoned since mid-July, shortly after their original detention. Tuesday’s operation is the second to target Şile, following the July 10th arrest of the district mayor Özgür Kabadayı for alleged financial crimes. Kabadayı was among six municipal officials arrested in July’s operation. One official from Şile, Ali Şafak, is accused of accepting a 20,000 Euro bribe in exchange for awarding a construction tender. Arrested district mayor Özgür Kabadayı said in a recent statement that he was unaware of the alleged irregularities taking place at the Şile municipality, and that the crimes related to the awarding of tenders fell under the jurisdiction of other officials. Kabadayı, along with four other officials from Şile, have been imprisoned since mid-July, shortly after their original detention. |
Tuesday’s operation is the second to target Şile, following the July 10th arrest of the district mayor Özgür Kabadayı for alleged financial crimes.
Kabadayı was among six municipal officials arrested in July’s operation.
One official from Şile, Ali Şafak, is accused of accepting a 20,000 Euro bribe in exchange for awarding a construction tender.
Arrested district mayor Özgür Kabadayı said in a recent statement that he was unaware of the alleged irregularities taking place at the Şile municipality, and that the crimes related to the awarding of tenders fell under the jurisdiction of other officials.
Kabadayı, along with four other officials from Şile, have been imprisoned since mid-July, shortly after their original detention.
Part of a broader wave of arrests
Turkish prosecutors have intensified a broad legal campaign targeting figures associated with the country’s main opposition, as a growing number of arrests and court cases focus on officials linked to the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The push gained momentum in March with the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a nationally popular figure regarded as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s most serious political challenger and the CHP’s expected presidential nominee. İmamoğlu was taken into custody on corruption-related accusations, which he and opposition leaders reject, arguing the case reflects political pressure rather than judicial independence.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
