Objection to evictions in the 'cooperative' case in Izmir

In a statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that a lawsuit was filed against 65 defendants within the scope of the investigation for "fraud by using public institutions and organizations and public professional organizations as tools."

It was noted that the release of detained defendants Şenol Aslanoğlu, Cihangir Lübiç, and Hüseyin Şimşek on probation was decided at the hearing held yesterday at the İzmir 23rd High Criminal Court, and that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office objected to the release of Şenol Aslanoğlu and Cihangir Lübiç.

INVESTIGATION AND JUDICIAL PROCESS

On July 1, the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into allegations of corruption at İZBETON AŞ, a subsidiary of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, through subcontractor companies. Detention warrants were issued for 157 suspects on charges of "rigging the tender and performance of the obligation" and "aggravated fraud" based on the Court of Accounts report, the property inspector's report, and expert reports.

It was stated that 22 of the suspects were working at İZBETON AŞ, 2 at the Business People Örnekköy Housing Construction Cooperative, 3 at the Business World Housing Construction Cooperative, 2 at the Business People Gaziemir Housing Construction Cooperative, 3 at the Business World Yeni Yaşam Housing Construction Cooperative, 3 at the Aegean Business People Housing Construction Cooperative, and the other 122 suspects were municipality personnel and owners and employees of companies operating in areas such as construction, building, electricity, marble, and separation.

139 suspects, including former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer and CHP Izmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, were captured.

Of the suspects referred to the criminal court of peace, 60 were arrested, including Soyer and Aslanoğlu, while 58 were released on probation. Twenty of the suspects were released by the police, and one by the prosecutor's office.

The third indictment, prepared against 65 suspects, including Soyer and Aslanoğlu, on charges of "qualified fraud by using public institutions and organizations, public professional organizations, political parties, foundations or associations as legal entities as tools", "qualified fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations", "qualified fraud by cooperative managers within the scope of the cooperative's activities during the commercial activities of persons who are merchants or company managers or acting on behalf of the company" and attempting to commit these crimes, sought prison sentences of 3 to 45 years each. The indictment was accepted by the Izmir 23rd High Criminal Court.

While the trial was ongoing, İZBETON AŞ board members Levent İşler, Sevcan Tınaztepe, Orhan Sertaç Dölek, Mehmet Gürhan Özata and former İZBETON AŞ Deputy General Manager Mehmet Alphan Bozan were released with an interim decision, and it was decided to lift the judicial control conditions of all the defendants who were not in custody and whose defenses were taken.

In the trial held yesterday, it was ruled that CHP İzmir Provincial Chair Şenol Aslanoğlu, İZBETON AŞ Board Member Cihangir Lübiç and former İZBETON AŞ Deputy General Manager Hüseyin Şimşek would be released on probation, while the other arrested defendants, former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General and İZBETON AŞ Deputy Chairman of the Board Barış Karcı and former İZBETON AŞ General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya, would continue in their current situations.