Güzelbahçe Mayor Mustafa Günay and Zoning Director Özgür Bayraktar, who were detained in an Izmir-based corruption investigation, were arrested by the court and sent to prison.
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, gendarmerie teams organized an operation against Güzelbahçe Municipality in the morning. Following searches at the municipality building, 5 people, including current and former mayors, were detained. Mayor Mustafa Günay and Zoning and Urbanization Director Özgür Bayraktar were arrested, while 3 other suspects were released on judicial control conditions. An arrest warrant was issued for municipality council member G.G. and his businessman wife Ş.G., who are abroad.
17 YEARS OF ORGANIZED WHEEL: BRIBE RECEIPTS IN FILE
In the investigation file, it was documented with bribe receipts that the suspects had acted together since 2009, turning a blind eye to unauthorized construction and thus gaining financial benefits.
According to the investigations reflected in the inspector and expert reports, it was determined that the criminal organization had been working in an organized manner for many years. It was determined that the suspects allowed the construction of buildings against the zoning, did not enforce demolition orders and received bribes in return. The investigation file included numerous bank receipts proving the bribery scheme as well as victim and witness statements as evidence.
MONEY TRAFFIC WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH THE MAYOR'S WIFE
Investigations revealed that the money from the bribery network was funneled through a company authorized by Mayor Mustafa Günay's wife.
One of the most striking details of the investigation was the method of money traffic. It was determined that a significant amount of money flowed through a company run by Mayor Günay's wife Nermin Günay. In addition, witnesses testified that bribe negotiations and negotiations were made through the company owned by Ş.G., the businessman wife of council member G.G., who fled abroad.
3.5 MILLION LIRAL PUBLIC LOSS FROM THE UNION BUDGET
The expert report confirmed that Mustafa Günay, through the Union of Peninsula Municipalities, of which he was the president, made 3.5 million liras of irregular expenditures using the resources of member municipalities.
Arrested Mayor Mustafa Günay was found to have committed irregularities not only in the municipality but also in the Peninsula Municipalities Union, of which he was the chairman. The expert committee's investigations documented that a total of 3.5 million liras of irregular expenditures were made over the assets and budgets of other municipalities that are members of the union, causing public damage.
Center News Editor: Dilek Bozkurt