The investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the suspect Cafer Mahiroğlu for the crimes of "bribery", "tender rigging" and "laundering of assets resulting from crime" continues.
In the investigation, it was determined that Halk TV, Özdemir Üç Tekstil, other companies and personal accounts were funded through BUSTECH Vehicle Maintenance Tenar Hizmetleri AŞ, which was established in Izmir in 2021 as a front for Mahiroğlu and had an illegal tender, and that the payments were tried to be laundered by circulating the payments in the relevant accounts more than once in a short time.
In the investigation, which found that Halk TV, owned by Mahiroğlu, was used as a shield against the society in this process, secret witnesses and effective statements of regret were received.
According to the summary of these statements, it was determined that tenders for vehicle maintenance, repair, cleaning works and mask purchase were received from Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in order to prevent Halk TV from experiencing economic difficulties after it was purchased by Cafer Mahiroğlu, and bribes were paid in cash to those responsible in the tender and progress payment processes, including foreign currency and lira.
In this context, a detention order was issued for 8 suspects who were considered to be related to the issue. Within the scope of the investigation, 7 suspects were caught in the second wave operation carried out simultaneously in Eskişehir, Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul.
The names of the suspects taken into custody are as follows:
"Former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality General Secretary Ramazan Tezcan, former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Machinery Supply Department Head Haluk Harun Tuzsuzoğlu, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Machinery Supply Department controller Mehmet Meral, and former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality staff İbrahim Tuncol (arrested for another crime) and Filiz Bulut, İbrahim Seyfittinoglu and Murat Topuz."
investigation
In the statement made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Financial Crimes Branch Directorate of the Istanbul Provincial Police Department, under the coordination of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, against the suspect Cafer Mahiroğlu for the crimes of "bribery", "tender rigging" and "laundering of criminal assets", the data provided by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), confidential witness statements, suspect statements and other information and documents within the scope of the file were evaluated together.
In the investigations carried out in this context, it was stated in the statement that the suspect Mahiroğlu enabled the establishment of BUSTECH Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Services Joint Stock Company by using his connections at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, and that findings were reached that Mahiroğlu transferred the management of the company to the people he determined and unfair benefits were obtained through the transactions carried out within the scope of municipal tenders.
In the statement, it was noted that, in line with the statements and records within the scope of the file, it was determined that an unregistered bribe payment of 14 million 464 thousand liras was made in connection with the tender processes, 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 that belonged to the suspect or were considered to be related to the suspect.
In the statement made on the data provided by MASAK, it was stated that the total transaction volume of the companies with which the suspect Mahiroğlu was associated as a partner or manager was 30 billion 352 million 37 thousand 389 liras and 15 kuruş, and in the examinations made on the suspect's personal bank accounts, a total of 1 billion 62 million 260 thousand 3 liras and 28 kuruş money inflow was made in 459 separate transactions, a total of 1 billion in 564 separate transactions. It was reported that 118 million 591 thousand 33 liras and 88 kuruş money outflow occurred.
In addition, it was stated in the statement that the money transfers made abroad through the companies of which Mahiroğlu is a manager were also examined, and high-volume foreign currency-based transactions were detected regarding the relevant financial movements. It was stated that in the examination of the personal bank accounts of Mahiroğlu and his first-degree relatives and the accounts of the companies with which he has partnership or management relations, international SWIFT money transfers of high amounts were found, and it was understood that there were inconsistencies between asset acquisitions and declared income.
In the statement, it was also stated that Mahiroğlu was wanted for "tender rigging" within the scope of a separate investigation carried out against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and that there were findings that he went abroad on March 10, 2025.
In the statement, it was stated that detention orders were given for 17 suspects in line with the evidence obtained within the scope of the investigation, and 11 suspects were detained as a result of the simultaneous operation. It was noted that 4 of the suspects were abroad, 1 of them was found to be in a penal institution, and efforts to capture 1 suspect were continuing.
In the statement, it was stated that the companies that the suspect Mahiroğlu was found to be a partner, manager or affiliated with were seized by the decision of the Criminal Court of Peace and the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was decided to be appointed as trustee.
Within the scope of the investigation, it was learned that suspects Harika Akkaya, Hasan Özdemir, İbrahim Özdemir, Armağan Küçük, Mustafa Özdemir, Halit Akın, Ali Turan, Mediha Burumoğlu, Murat Koçak, Erkan Yağcı, Süleyman Özen and Mehmet Necati Yağcı were detained.
In the investigation, it was determined that the suspects Cafer Mahiroğlu, Hakan Arıcan and Sevim Kul were abroad, the suspect Doruk Bulut was in prison for another crime, and the suspect Fatih Yadoğlu was a fugitive.
On the other hand, within the scope of the investigation, the criminal judgeship of peace also blocked access to the social media accounts of Halk TV, for which SDIF was appointed as trustee.
Of the 12 suspects who were referred to the Istanbul Palace of Justice after their procedures at the police station, 7 were sent to the criminal judgeship of peace with a request for arrest, 4 for house arrest, and 1 for the implementation of judicial control provisions. It was decided to arrest 4 suspects, house arrest for 4 suspects, and judicial control for 4 suspects.
As the investigation continued, 1 more suspect was arrested after being detained, bringing the number of people arrested to 5.
