Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan faces trial over bribery and corruption charges

The 3rd Heavy Criminal Court in Bolu is hearing a case against former mayor Tanju Özcan and 18 co‑defendants. The indictment includes "icbar suretiyle irtikap", "irtikaba teşebbüs", "rüşvet", "nitelikli dolandırıcılık" and violation of the 5072 Law on Foundations. Prosecutor Yusuf Karaöztürk asked that Özcan and four other suspects remain in pre‑trial detention, while CHP council member Cihan Tutal should be released under judicial control. The prosecutor sought a sentence of up to 263 years for Özcan.

During the fourth day of hearings, witnesses described alleged BOLSEV donations in exchange for business licences and pressuring market chains to pay advertising fees. Representatives of several retail chains testified that they were not complainants, despite claiming they faced increased inspections after the meetings. Özcan asserted his innocence, saying, "Kendimi sütten çıkmış ak kaşık gibi görüyorum. Bu kadar masum olduğumu ben bile bilmiyordum" ("I feel as innocent as a newborn; I didn't even know I was this innocent"). The trial is being held in the gym of Bolu Social Sciences High School with heightened security and was adjourned for a day pending a judicial decision.