Below are the facts you must know about why Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested.
In the corruption investigation involving Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and its subsidiaries, the existence of an organized crime group operating for financial gain under the leadership of Ekrem İmamoğlu has been uncovered, and findings related to the activities of this criminal organization have been identified.
The structure and activities of the İmamoğlu Criminal Organization for financial gain have been documented through various pieces of evidence, including MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) reports, technical surveillance and base station comparisons, the Ministry of Interior’s assignment report, and the testimonies of a total of 25 witnesses.
It has been determined that the leader of this profit-driven criminal organization, Ekrem İmamoğlu, along with its managers, committed crimes such as bid rigging, bribery (both giving and receiving), extortion, money laundering through fraudulent invoices and shell companies, and fraud causing financial damage to public institutions.
Furthermore, it has been learned that this organization has been involved in activities such as using illicit proceeds for the organization’s objectives, unlawfully obtaining personal data, violating the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK), unjust enrichment, acquiring assets from unknown sources, and evading tax regulations.
The investigation is based on material evidence, such as MASAK reports, the Ministry of Interior’s assignment report, and tax audit reports, as well as supporting documents like title deeds, HTS (Historical Traffic Search) records, and base station comparisons. Additionally, the testimonies of 25 witnesses have helped clarify relationships among organization members.
The investigation does not rely on secret witness statements; only a few of the 25 witnesses are classified as secret witnesses. The majority of the witnesses are either İBB employees closely associated with the organization’s leaders or individuals with strong ties to them.
During the first wave of operations, it was determined that nine targeted individuals fled, some with highly professional and sophisticated assistance. New operations may be carried out as part of the ongoing investigation.
It was assessed that Ekrem İmamoğlu attempted to obstruct evidence by not handing over his personal mobile phone to judicial authorities. Instead, he submitted a phone registered to his advisor and İBB as if it were his own. Additionally, during the operation, he did not have his phone on him, and it was not found at his residence during the search.
Moreover, law enforcement officers who arrived at his residence with an arrest and search warrant were personally blocked for about 20 minutes by security personnel under İmamoğlu’s orders, raising concerns that additional evidence might have been destroyed during this time.
One of the corruption investigations is related to the 2019 purchase process of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Building, and the other originates from a 2021 investigation into irregularities in İBB’s outdoor advertising spaces. These investigations have since been merged.
ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Leader of the Organization – İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu
Organization Manager – Medya AŞ General Manager Murat Ongun
Organization Manager – İBB Sports Club General Manager Fatih Keleş
Organization Manager – İBB Subsidiaries Chairman Ertan Yıldız
Organization Manager – İmamoğlu İnşaat and SSB Gayrimenkul General Manager Tuncay Yılmaz
Treasurer of the Organization – Adem Soytekin (linked to Fatih Keleş)
Treasurer of the Organization – Ali Nuhoğlu (linked to Fatih Keleş)
Treasurer of the Organization – Hüseyin Köksal (linked to Murat Ongun)
Treasurer of the Organization – Emrah Bağdatlı (linked to Murat Ongun)
Organization Member – Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık
It has been discovered that the four treasurers of the organization were directly in contact with Ekrem İmamoğlu, generating substantial financial gains for the organization. They were found to have unusually large cash reserves in their accounts or to have made significant money transfers, withdrawing large amounts of cash from banks and redirecting it in line with the organization’s objectives.
ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES
The leader of the profit-driven criminal organization, Ekrem İmamoğlu, along with other managers and members, was involved in:
Organizing fraudulent tenders and manipulating bids to cause public financial losses,
Holding sham tenders that never actually took place, engaging in bid rigging and fraud,
Giving and receiving bribes, extorting money for financial gain,
Receiving bribes from companies awarded İBB contracts in exchange for payment of their dues,
Collecting bribes in return for granting permits to illegal buildings,
Acquiring land within urban planning areas through intermediaries for the organization’s financial benefit,
Laundering illicit gains through fake invoices and shell companies,
Redirecting illicit funds to the criminal organization,
Using crime proceeds to further the organization’s objectives,
Unlawfully obtaining and disseminating personal data in violation of KVKK,
Engaging in unjust enrichment by acquiring unexplained assets and violating tax laws,
Financially benefiting journalists and influencers to shape public opinion in favor of the organization’s leader.
CASH COUNTING VIDEOS
Ekrem İmamoğlu previously denied involvement in the purchase process of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Building. However, investigations revealed that he directly managed the process.
It was found that 6 million TL from Beylikdüzü Municipality, 3 million TL from Beşiktaş Municipality, and 800,000 TL from Şişli Municipality were transported to a law office where cash piles were formed.
Organization members Tuncay Yılmaz and Fatih Keleş personally oversaw the process. While cash piles were being formed, both had three phone conversations with Ekrem İmamoğlu.
GÜLLÜCE TARIM A.Ş.
Established in April 2021 by Ali Nuhoğlu with a capital of 50,000 TL.
Acquired three villas in Emirgan for 32 million TL.
Had no further business activities.
By March 2024, its capital increased to 46.8 million TL through financial transfers.
The company was transferred to İmamoğlu A.Ş. for 15 million TL.
At the time of transfer, it had a capital of 46.8 million TL and three villas worth 50 million TL.
Ali Nuhoğlu secured a 2.1 billion TL contract with Kiptaş and received 199.5 million TL through his company İstcon A.Ş. in exchange for transferring Güllüce Tarım A.Ş. at a low price to İmamoğlu.
İMAMOĞLU A.Ş.
Companies receiving payments from İBB subsidiaries used portions of these funds to buy real estate from İmamoğlu İnşaat.
Payments were made to İmamoğlu A.Ş. through intermediaries close to İmamoğlu.
Murat Kapki, owner of BVA, which received a 193 million TL payment from Kültür A.Ş., transferred 50 million TL to İmamoğlu İnşaat under the guise of “apartment payment.”
SECOND CORRUPTION CASE
Began in 2021 with a complaint from Sedat Kapudağı.
Following investigations, a corruption case worth 68 billion TL was uncovered.
The organization was found to have manipulated outdoor advertising tenders by Kültür A.Ş. and Medya A.Ş., leading to embezzlement of 68 billion TL.
Murat Ongun directed the corruption and managed the scheme with several executives.
Technical evidence confirmed that key figures held meetings to allocate tenders and determine kickback rates.
