Mersin Mayors and 56 Suspects Detained, Corruption Investigation Continues

Corruption investigations against CHP municipalities continue.

Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched a corruption investigation against Mersin Metropolitan Municipality and Yenişehir and Mezitli municipalities. As part of the investigation, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit and Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer were detained.

It was learned that 56 more suspects were detained in addition to the mayors.

While a search was carried out in the municipality within the scope of the operation, police teams took precautions in the surrounding area.

WHAT ARE THE ACCUSES?

It was stated that in the investigations regarding Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, a total of 330 million 945 thousand TL public loss was detected in 13 tenders and 63 direct procurement.

NTV Reporter Mustafa Berber gave the following information about the investigation:

"The reason for the operation was corruption. For this reason, a detention order was made. A simultaneous operation was carried out this morning. An investigation was previously conducted against Vahap Seçer, he was arrested and released."

WHO IS VAHAP Seçer?

Born in Tarsus district of Mersin on October 5, 1963, Seçer graduated from Çukurova University Faculty of Agriculture.

While Seçer was a member of the professional chamber as an agricultural engineer, he also served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tarsus Power Union Foundation, which he founded.

Seçer served as CHP Mersin Deputy for the 23rd and 24th terms between 2007 and 2015. Vahap Seçer was elected as the Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality in the General Election of Local Administrations on March 31, 2019.

Seçer, who was elected mayor for the second time in the elections of March 31, 2024, took on the position of Deputy Chairman of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye in July 2025.