Buca Mayor Görkem Duman Removed from Office in Corruption Probe

İzmir Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı launched a corruption investigation into Buca municipality, targeting the mayor and municipal officials. On 1 June, mayor Görkem Duman was arrested and subsequently detained. The interior ministry invoked Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law to place Duman on temporary removal from his post.

The probe alleges that Duman, former mayor Erhan Kılıç, and former CHP district chairman Çağdaş Kaya belong to a criminal organization and faced charges of bribery and embezzlement. Prosecutors allege bribes for zoning approvals, misuse of municipal credit‑card funds for personal travel, and a “bankamatik memuru” scheme where employees received salaries without working. The investigation also references a “sabun” code used for bribe transactions. In total, 54 suspects were detained, with 42 kept in custody. Four suspects remain at large abroad.

The operation, described as one of the most extensive corruption cases in İzmir, led to the mayor’s removal and ongoing legal proceedings.