Istanbul Mayor Sinem Dedetaş Arrested in Corruption Probe FAST-MOVING

Sinem Dedetaş Üsküdar corruption bribery arrests

Üsküdar Belediye Başkanı Sinem Dedetaş was taken into custody on 29 July 2026 as part of a corruption investigation into the municipality’s building‑permit and zoning processes. Prosecutors allege she led an illicit network that accepted bribes, engaged in “irtikap” (illegal profiteering) and organized a criminal group to manipulate permits. The indictment also names three municipal officials – Alihan Koçoğlu, Burçin Çevik and Bülent Orhan Tozkoparan – who were arrested alongside her, while Ceyhun Ünlü and Adem Altıntaş were placed under judicial control.

The probe uncovered consultancy contracts worth about 1.078 billion TRY and payments of 361 million TRY that were allegedly used to channel illegal payments for building permits. On the same day, police conducted simultaneous raids at 11 addresses, detaining six suspects and completing health checks before transferring them to the Istanbul Anadolu Courthouse. The arrests sparked political backlash: Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Eskişehir MP İbrahim Arslan and thousands of citizens staged protests, describing the move as political pressure on elected officials.

The investigation is being coordinated by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Special Investigation Bureau and the Financial Crimes Investigation Branch, with evidence gathered from whistle‑blower statements, MASAK reports and digital communications.

Entities: Alihan Koçoğlu · Anadolu Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı · Burçin Çevik · Bülent Orhan Tozkoparan · Ceyhun Ünlü · Ekrem İmamoğlu · Financial Crimes Investigation Branch · Istanbul Anadolu Courthouse · Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor · Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office · Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Special Investigation Bureau · Kent A.Ş.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 32 SOURCES] Kent AŞ staff issued building permits for structurally unsafe buildings, violating fire‑safety and structural regulations. (clm_8706b1e4)
[● 31 SOURCES] Consultancy contracts worth about 1.08 billion TRY and payments of 361 million TRY were used to channel illegal payments for building permits. (The indictment also mentions consultancy contracts worth about 1.078 billion TRY and payments of 361 million TRY that...)
[● 17 SOURCES] A whistle‑blower claimed that Mayor Dedetaş decided the amount of bribe required for illegal building permits. (multiple articles)
[● 27 SOURCES] Sinem Dedetaş and five other officials were placed under arrest. (multiple)
[● 6 SOURCES] Thousands of citizens marched to the Üsküdar municipal building in protest of the arrests. (Thousands of citizens marched to the Üsküdar municipal building in protest of the arrests.)
[● 28 SOURCES] Police raided 11 addresses linked to the Üsküdar case and detained six suspects. (multiple articles)
[● 29 SOURCES] The investigation includes allegations of bribery, irtikap and organized‑crime charges related to municipal building permits. (existing)
[● 31 SOURCES] After health examinations, the six suspects, including Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, were transferred to the Istanbul Anadolu Courthouse. (clm_d41056f0)
[● 27 SOURCES] The probe was coordinated by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Special Investigation Bureau and the Financial Crimes Investigation Branch. (multiple articles)
[● 16 SOURCES] Prosecutors requested detention of Sinem Dedetaş, Alihan Koçoğlu, Burçin Çevik and Bülent Orhan Tozkoparan. (existing)
[● 15 SOURCES] Ceyhun Ünlü and Adem Altıntaş were placed under judicial control while the other four suspects were ordered detained.
[● 15 SOURCES] Simultaneous raids were carried out at 11 addresses on 29 July as part of the operation.