Eight more people were ordered detained in the investigation into Bakırköy Municipality, bringing the number of detainees to 62. The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched the investigation on charges of “bid rigging” and “extortion by a public official” over allegations of irregularities in the municipality’s procurement of goods and services and resulting public losses. On the first day of the operation, 58 people were detained, including deputy mayors Nurcan Alan, Ali Rıza Akyüz, Cemalettin Özdemir, Arda Karadağ and Abdülhamit Pehlivan and two municipal council members. Bakırköy Mayor Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu criticized the detentions, arguing that the operation was politically motivated. On 27 October, the day of the operation, Ovalıoğlu joined YENİ Parti together with municipal council members. YENİ Parti Chair Özgür Özel said Ovalıoğlu’s 86-year-old father had also been detained and criticized the manner in which the investigation was conducted.
28 October 2026
Diken