Şile Municipality bribery investigation targets former Mayor Özgür Kabadayı

An indictment prepared by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that a criminal organization led by former Şile Mayor Özgür Kabadayı engaged in 21 separate bribery acts. The document claims that during his 15-month tenure, Kabadayı requested approximately 92.3 million TL in bribes in exchange for irregular administrative actions.

Several municipal officials, including deputy mayors, the private secretary, and various department heads, have been identified as organization leaders or members. Concrete evidence cited in the indictment includes bribery lists found on mobile phones and in personal agendas, as well as HTS records and financial movements analyzed by MASAK.

A former zoning consultant, Dursun Gümüş, who served at the municipality for only 1.5 months, provided statements as an effective repentant. Gümüş made allegations involving bribery and irregularities against several high-profile figures, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Özgür Kabadayı, though the indictment notes many of his claims were based on hearsay, using phrases such as “I heard” or “I think.”