Turkish Mayor Arrested: 18 Detained in Corruption Raid, 10 Jailed

Police raided the municipal building in Silivri, Istanbul, detaining 18 people, including Mayor Balcıoğlu, as part of a corruption probe [171367]. Financial crime units searched the building for evidence during the operation [171367]. The Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office completed the legal processing of all 18 detainees at the Silivri courthouse, formally arresting ten individuals and releasing the remaining eight under judicial supervision [174444]. The specific charges against the mayor and other suspects have not yet been disclosed [174444].

In a separate but related operation, Turkish authorities also targeted ANSET, a company owned by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, resulting in multiple arrests [174443]. Eight individuals employed by the municipality and its affiliated companies were detained, though the exact reasons for the operation have not been officially disclosed [174443]. The investigation remains ongoing [174443].

Meanwhile, Istanbul's chief prosecutor ordered the detention of 28 people over alleged illegal building inspections in the Beylikdüzü district [174439]. The investigation claims officials ignored violations of building permits, allowed faulty construction procedures, and issued occupancy permits for buildings that did not meet legal standards [174439]. Suspects include municipal employees and private construction company staff [174439].

In a separate development, a top Istanbul official accused in a major corruption case broke his silence after 15 months [174431]. Buğra Gökce, a senior figure in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, denied the charges against him, stating that the indictment contains no accusation related to his work at the Istanbul Planning Agency and is based only on administrative procedures from a specific period [174431].