Operation targets Üsküdar Municipality; Mayor İmamoğlu sends message

An operation targeting the Üsküdar Municipality in Istanbul has led to the detention of six individuals, including Mayor Sinem Dedetaş and Deputy Mayor Ceyhun Ünlü. The investigation, initiated by the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, centers on alleged irregularities in the issuance of building and occupancy permits.

The prosecutor's office stated that the investigation began following reports, victim statements, and testimony from cooperating suspects regarding alleged misconduct in the permit process. The allegations suggest that officials from Kent A.Ş., a company reportedly without authority in issuing permits, coordinated the process through a communication network, using encrypted messaging applications. It is claimed that this company prepared documents with zoning information to guide municipal personnel.

Further allegations include the signing of numerous "consultancy service" contracts between Kent A.Ş. and contractors, totaling over 1 billion Turkish Lira. MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) data and other evidence reportedly indicate that 361 million Turkish Lira has been collected to date under these contracts. The investigation also claims that contractors were pressured to sign contracts with Kent A.Ş. to obtain building permits, and that bribes were accepted for illegal occupancy permits, with some payments allegedly made in installments to Mayor Dedetaş's advisor.

Following the operation, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, currently detained in Silivri, issued a statement via the "Presidential Candidate Office" social media account. He condemned the operation as an unlawful act by a mindset that has lost faith in the ballot box and is resorting to the judiciary. "But do not worry, our 86 million citizens are counting down the days to send you away," İmamoğlu declared, framing the action as a political maneuver against the opposition.

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The mindset that tries to seize the will of the people with unlawful operations at dawn; has lost hope in the ballot box and is trying to hold on through the judiciary. But do not worry, our 86 million citizens are counting down the days to send you away.