Izmit Mayor Fatma Kaplan Hürriyet Suspended Amid Corruption Probe

Izmit Mayor Fatma Kaplan Hürriyet was temporarily removed from office by Turkey's Interior Ministry following her arrest on charges of organized crime, tender fraud and bribery. The arrest stemmed from an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office (case 2026/102274) and was ordered by the Istanbul 7th Minor Court of Peace on 23 July 2026. Under Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law, the ministry cited these legal provisions for the suspension.

The probe revealed alleged illicit activities within the municipal administration, including a "bribery room" where gifts were stored, testimonies about a sealed bag containing cash, and claims that contractor payments were funneled through personal accounts. Several former municipal officials, such as former Special Secretary Ümit Duygu Çetiner and former driver Hüseyin Ergül, provided statements about these irregularities. The removal aligns with ongoing efforts to address corruption in local government.