Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek said, "The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality investigation is the biggest corruption case of the century."

Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek met with court reporters working at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan as part of the opening of the judicial year. During the meeting, which took the form of a conversation, Gürlek touched on the ongoing corruption investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and many other issues.

"This investigation is the biggest corruption investigation of the century."

Making a statement regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality investigation, Gürlek said, "There isn't a single detainee in the investigation based on witness testimony. If there is, tell us so we can release them the next day. There's evidence against the detained suspects, and we're conducting the investigation with the precision of a jeweler's scale. This is the largest corruption investigation of the century. No one took leave during the judicial recess; everyone is aware of their responsibilities. Furthermore, the indictment preparation phase has begun."

Chief Prosecutor Gürlek stated that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) took out approximately $5 billion in loans between 2019 and 2024, but this money was transferred to companies through various methods, stalling many metro projects. Regarding the live broadcast of the hearings, Gürlek said, "The hearings are already open to the public; there's no decision to broadcast them live, but we're confident in this matter. We're confident in our case."

"We are not putting pressure on them, on the contrary, they are putting pressure on those who want to benefit from effective repentance."

Speaking about the use of effective remorse provisions, Gürlek said, "Statements under effective remorse are always taken in the presence of lawyers. Despite everything, we don't force anyone, and no one is released on the same day. We don't pressure anyone; on the contrary, they pressure those who want to benefit from effective remorse. For example, during the period when Ertan Yıldız was an informant, 37 lawyers went to the prison for a visit in three days."

He said that Kapki had learned about the operation in advance.

Gürlek, stating that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office took action when the suspect, Murat Kapki, somehow learned of the first operation in advance and began smuggling his belongings, said, "He transferred eight properties in one day. Very valuable properties and cars. After that move, we carried out seizure procedures and implemented judicial control measures."

UAV

Reporter: News Center