# Corruption investigations in İzmir municipalities

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/corruption-investigations-in-izmir-municipalities
> Updated: 2026-09-23T05:43:03.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 2.

Corruption investigations in İzmir have expanded to include multiple municipal entities and high-ranking officials. An indictment was finalized regarding the S. S. İş İnsanları Örnekköy Housing Construction Cooperative, targeting 19 suspects including former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer and former CHP Provincial Chair Şenol Aslanoğlu. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences for embezzlement and aiding embezzlement, alleging a 77.6 million lira loss linked to a protocol between İZBETON and the cooperative.

Simultaneously, a large-scale probe into the Menderes Municipality has resulted in multiple waves of arrests. Following an initial operation in August 2026 that saw the arrest of Mayor İlkay Çiçek, a second wave of police operations led to the detention of nine more suspects, including former Deputy Mayor Erkan Özkan. The investigation, coordinated by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, involves allegations of bribery, extortion, forgery, abuse of office, and zoning pollution. Authorities are utilizing data from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) to investigate claims of large cash finds and demands for payments to expedite business licenses.

## Claims

- A second wave of operations was launched against Menderes Municipality regarding bribery and extortion. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Nine suspects, including former Deputy Mayor Erkan Özkan, were detained in the second wave of the Menderes Municipality investigation. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The investigation includes charges of bribery, extortion, forgery of official documents, and abuse of office. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Mayor İlkay Çiçek and several deputy mayors were previously arrested in an earlier phase of the investigation. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Police conducted simultaneous operations in Istanbul, Konya, Antalya, and Erzurum. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Ten suspects were detained in connection with a beauty center fraud scheme. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Suspects allegedly hid promissory notes among documents signed by victims to initiate enforcement proceedings. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The fraud caused approximately 10 million Turkish Lira in damages. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-23: Turkey conducts major operations against municipal corruption and beauty center fraud

Turkish police have detained suspects in two major operations: a bribery and extortion probe at Menderes Municipality in Izmir, and a 10-million-lira beauty center fraud scheme across four provinces.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-police-raid-fet-marriage-network-across-eight-provinces

### 2026-09-07: Tunç Soyer and others face indictment in İzmir corruption probe

An indictment in İzmir seeks prison terms for former Mayor Tunç Soyer and others in a cooperative corruption case, while Ekrem İmamoğlu warns of the societal costs of eroding judicial trust.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ekrem-imamolu-warns-of-national-consequences-regarding-rule-of-law

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Cite as: Corruption investigations in İzmir municipalities. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/corruption-investigations-in-izmir-municipalities