Sayıştay reports reveal widespread irregularities in Turkish municipalities

The Turkish Court of Accounts (Sayıştay) has released its 2025 audit reports, uncovering significant financial irregularities, mismanagement, and potential corruption across various municipalities.

In Istanbul, the report alleges that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) paid significantly inflated prices for items such as shroud cloth and sweets. It also notes that funds intended for metro projects were diverted to other expenditures, causing delays in major construction lines. In Ankara, the report identifies irregularities regarding the issuance of shopping mall licenses for buildings that did not meet necessary criteria.

Other regional findings include:

• Bilecik: A municipal company faces a debt crisis of approximately 238 million TL to social security institutions, following years of losses and alleged nepotism in staffing. • Malatya: A massive debt load has emerged, with interest payments on various loans exceeding the principal amount. Additionally, six public officials, including a former deputy governor, have been granted permission for investigation regarding alleged public losses during post-earthquake debris removal operations. • Kayseri: Officials and council members were reportedly receiving multiple, unauthorized payments for overlapping roles. • Düzce and Köşk: Audits identified improper personnel assignments, unauthorized service procurements, and the exceeding of direct procurement limits.

In Antalya, a separate report from the Ministry of Interior highlighted procedural failures in preliminary investigations, noting that legal rights were not properly communicated to investigated personnel.