Record of police testimony emerges as Mayor Güner denies bribery allegations

Çankaya Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner has denied allegations of bribery and bid-rigging in an 18-page statement given to Ankara police. The record of his questioning emerged as part of an organized-crime investigation led by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Investigators questioned Güner about alleged irregularities in waste collection and cleaning-service tenders organized by Çankaya Municipality. He rejected the accusations, saying the relevant municipal departments prepared the tender documents and the Central Procurement Office conducted the procedures. “I have no involvement or knowledge of the preparation or conduct of the tenders. I am innocent,” he said.

Güner also addressed the cancellation of the tenders under investigation. He said the decisions were made by authorized officials because competition could not be ensured and in the public interest. He added that the decisions had been found lawful by the Public Procurement Authority and the Council of State. After the cancellations, temporary tenders saved the municipality millions of lira, he said, meaning no public loss occurred.

“

I have no involvement or knowledge of the preparation or conduct of the tenders. I am innocent.

Police also asked about computers, electronic-signature USB devices, cash and gold seized from Güner’s home, workplace and former law office. He said the 100,000 Turkish lira in cash and the gram gold pieces belonged to his wife and were her “day gold” savings. He said he did not want to provide the password for his personal phone voluntarily. Güner also denied involvement in message images allegedly linked to municipal licensing and tenders, saying they belonged to third parties.

Questioned about why a cleaning-services tender moved slowly and why a negotiated procedure was used instead of an open tender, Güner blamed bureaucratic delays. He said the temporary procedure was necessary to prevent an interruption in services. He also cited a previous investigation into tender No. 2024/1083351, saying prosecutors obtained an expert report and issued a decision not to prosecute on Dec. 5, 2024.

“

The temporary tender was compulsory to prevent the service from being disrupted.