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Turkish opposition mayors convicted in major corruption trial
An Istanbul court has issued verdicts in a major corruption case involving 200 defendants, centered on allegations that businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş used bribery and bid-rigging to secure municipal contracts. While the court acquitted all defendants of charges related to forming or leading a criminal organization, several high-profile mayors from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) received prison sentences for bribery and tender manipulation.
Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat received the heaviest sentence, totaling over 23 years in prison. Other convicted officials include Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin (8 years, 4 months), Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar (6 years, 3 months), Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara (6 years, 8 months), and Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar (5 years, 10 months). Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer received an 8-month sentence for negligence, with the execution suspended.
Aziz İhsan Aktaş was acquitted of organized crime charges but was sentenced to 2 years, 8 months, and 15 days for bid-rigging. Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere was acquitted of all charges. The ruling has sparked political debate, with critics labeling the proceedings as politically motivated attempts to weaken the CHP, while the government maintains the judiciary's independence.
Entities
Avcılar Municipality · Aziz İhsan Aktaş · Beşiktaş Municipality · Esenyurt Municipality · Istanbul 1. Heavy Penal Court · Istanbul 1st High Criminal Court · Oya Tekin · Republican People's Party · Rıza Akpolat · Turkey · Zeydan Karalar
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 33 SOURCES] The Istanbul 1st High Criminal Court is presiding over the case. bolgegazetesi.com.tr · www.borsagundem.com.tr · www.aydinlik.com.tr · www.dunya.com · yurtsever.org.tr · +20 more
- [DISPUTED] Prosecutors seek 86 to 234 years in prison for Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat. bolgegazetesi.com.tr · beyazgazete.com · yurtsever.org.tr · www.borsagundem.com.tr
- [● 10 SOURCES] Prosecutors seek 187 to 450 years in prison for Aziz İhsan Aktaş. www.borsagundem.com.tr · www.konhaber.com · www.dunya.com · beyazgazete.com · yurtsever.org.tr
- [● 21 SOURCES] The Aziz İhsan Aktaş criminal organization is accused of organizing municipal tenders through bribery. bolgegazetesi.com.tr · www.borsagundem.com.tr · www.aydinlik.com.tr · beyazgazete.com · www.konhaber.com · +4 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] 28 defendants have been released during the trial process. www.aydinlik.com.tr · bolgegazetesi.com.tr · www.gazetezebra.com.tr
- [DISPUTED] The court has conducted 59 hearings over a seven-month period. bolgegazetesi.com.tr · www.aydinlik.com.tr · www.habereguven.com
- [DISPUTED] The trial involves 200 defendants. bolgegazetesi.com.tr · www.borsagundem.com.tr · www.aydinlik.com.tr · beyazgazete.com · www.konhaber.com · +20 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The investigation began with an operation on January 13, 2025. www.borsagundem.com.tr · www.konhaber.com · www.dunya.com · beyazgazete.com · www.marasbugun.com.tr
- [● 11 SOURCES] Five former opposition mayors were sentenced to prison terms, while one was acquitted. www.zeit.de · www.cash.ch · etv.me · www.vol.at · mymotherlode.com · +6 more
- [DISPUTED] Former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is currently in preventive detention facing corruption charges. www.stiripesurse.ro · www.vol.at · www.zeit.de · www.diepresse.com · www.cash.ch · +1 more
- [DISPUTED] Rıza Akpolat received a prison sentence of 23 years and three months. www.zeit.de · www.cash.ch · www.stiripesurse.ro · etv.me · www.vol.at · +6 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rıza Akpolat maintains his innocence, claiming there is no concrete evidence against him. www.stiripesurse.ro