Lawyer E.G., who was arrested within the scope of the investigation coordinated by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In his statement, he explained that he met former Menderes Mayor İlkay Çiçek in a cafe around the CHP Headquarters during the election period.
Stating that Çiçek offered him a job as a lawyer in the municipality after he was elected mayor and he accepted, E.G said, "Before I came to Menderes Municipality, he expressed his interest in me through WhatsApp correspondence in the last months of 2025. In response to his messages, I refused, saying 'we will work under the same roof and such a union would not suit both parties'. However, İlkay Çiçek approved me to work in Menderes Municipality even though I rejected him." he said.
'HE DID NOT RENEW MY CONTRACT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT BE A LOVER WITH ME'
Stating that he signed a contract with Menderes Municipality on December 15, 2025, E.G said, "İlkay Çiçek wanted to be a lover with me. When he could not get a positive response from me, he said 'I give up hope on you'. When İlkay Çiçek could not become a lover with me, he did not renew my contract." he said.
Explaining that after he started working at the municipality, there were rumors that "İlkay Çiçek brought his girlfriend from Ankara", E.G said:
"Ilkay Çiçek told me this. When İlkay told me these things, I took screenshots of the WhatsApp correspondence against slander. I took these records to protect myself. I sent the video of my correspondence with İlkay Çiçek to make E.K., who I have a romantic relationship with, jealous. Apart from that, I may have sent it to 1-2 of my friends in Ankara. I only sent these correspondences to A.D. because I saw her as a sister, so that she would know İlkay Çiçek's attitude."
Arrested lawyer E.G. He argued that the woman in the WhatsApp correspondence and photographs that were made public was not him.
Claiming that he is not İlkay Çiçek's lover, E.G said, "Our correspondence is on the phone. I gave the password of this phone to the law enforcement, it will be revealed when it is examined." he said.
WITNESS STATEMENTS
The statements of 2 witnesses were also included in the investigation.
Witness G.Ç., who worked as a municipal office personnel, said that he knew İlkay Çiçek when he was the headman, that he moved to the district after he became mayor, and that he met him in his office for business and gave him his phone number.
Claiming that Çiçek sent him a message saying "our conversation was very pleasant, let's repeat it", G.Ç said, "In this way, he sent messages and photos with his face, asking to meet with me. There were kiss emojis in these photos. He continued to send messages for about 1.5 months. I told him that I wanted to remain friends. He said 'let it be as you wish'. He continued to meet my demands because he had a soft spot for me. In this context, first my brother M.Ç, then my sister's husband Ü.D, "He hired me and my mother as part of the municipality, and then we continued our meetings as friends." he declared.
Explaining that he met with İlkay Çiçek at Menderes Youth Center, G.Ç said:
"We used to have all our private conversations with him there. While everyone thought it was a sports complex, there was a secret room on the top floor. He had all his private conversations with others there. He had a small black push-button phone in the room. He would not bring his own smart phone inside before entering the room. He made all his private conversations with a push-button phone. While we were in the room, I saw İlkay Çiçek and the person named M.P. using a push-button phone. On the table in the room, heaps of money in dollars, euros and Turkish lira. I saw it. Afterwards, they handed over this money to the driver to be given to council member S.M."
"HE SENT ME MONEY FROM HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT"
N.S., who previously worked as a volleyball coach in Menderes Municipality. He stated that Çiçek called him frequently.
Witness N.S., who stated that he was in love with İlkay Çiçek in 2025, explained the following in his statement:
"During this period, he would often send me messages and talk. Again, he would often send single-looking pictures in the content of the messages. In the content of the messages, he would send photos of himself with athletes at home, daily pictures, as well as pictures of sexual nature. I often needed money and I would ask İlkay for money from time to time, and he would send me this money as pocket money from his personal account. However, he would write it as a debt in his statement, whereas there is no debt relationship between us or a creditor relationship. Because the money I received would never be returned to him. "I did not pay it. I used it entirely for my personal needs. The money, around 726 thousand liras, was the money that İlkay gave me as pocket money from his account. However, I do not know how the source of this money was obtained."
INVESTIGATION
16 suspects, including Mayor İlkay Çiçek, were detained on August 4 in the investigation by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the crimes of "bribery, extortion, forgery of official documents, abuse of power and causing zoning pollution" against Menderes Municipality.
10 of the suspects who were referred to the courthouse, including İlkay Çiçek, were arrested on August 7, and the others were released on condition of judicial control.
Menderes Mayor İlkay Çiçek was suspended from office with the approval of the Ministry of Internal Affairs dated August 8, 2026, in accordance with the 4th paragraph of Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipality Law No. 5393.
