Halk TV statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office: 11 detainees, SDIF trustee for companies

Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office made a statement regarding the investigation carried out against Halk TV Chairman of the Board of Directors Cafer Mahiroğlu.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation was carried out on allegations of "bribery", "tender rigging" and "laundering of assets resulting from crime".

According to the statement, within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Financial Crimes Branch of Istanbul Provincial Police Department, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) data, confidential witness statements, suspect statements and other information and documents in the file were examined.

"14.4 MILLION LIRA BRIBE IN TENDERS" ALLEGATION

In the statement of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was claimed that Cafer Mahiroğlu used his connections at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality to establish the BUSTECH Vehicle Maintenance Repair Services Joint Stock Company, transferred the management of the company to the people he determined, and obtained findings that unfair benefits were obtained through municipal tenders.

In line with the statements and records in the file, it was claimed that it was assessed that an unregistered bribe payment of 14 million 464 thousand liras was made in connection with the tender processes. In the statement, it was claimed that payments were made at exorbitant prices above the tender prices for the works received through the relevant company and that the income obtained was transferred to companies considered to belong to Mahiroğlu or to be affiliated with Mahiroğlu.

In the statement, which also included the results of the investigations on MASAK data, it was reported that the total transaction volume of the companies with which Mahiroğlu was associated as a partner or manager was 30 billion 352 million 37 thousand 389 liras and 15 kuruş.

It was noted that in Mahiroğlu's personal bank accounts, a total of 1 billion 62 million 260 thousand 3 liras and 28 kuruş money inflow occurred in 459 separate transactions, and a total of 1 billion 118 million 591 thousand 33 lira 88 kuruş money outflow occurred in 564 separate transactions.

It was also stated that money transfers made abroad through the companies Mahiroğlu manages were also examined. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office claimed that there were high amounts of international SWIFT transfers in the bank accounts and company accounts of Mahiroğlu and his first-degree relatives, and that inconsistencies were detected between asset acquisitions and declared income.

In the statement of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was also shared that there was a wanted record against Cafer Mahiroğlu for "tender rigging" within the scope of a separate investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and that it was determined that Mahiroğlu went abroad on March 10, 2025.

DETENTION DECISION FOR 17 PEOPLE

It was announced that detention orders were issued for 17 people within the scope of the investigation, and 11 people were detained in simultaneous operations carried out on the morning of October 14, 2026.

It was stated that four of the people for whom detention orders were issued were abroad, one was in a penal institution, and one person was reported to be wanted.