Istanbul corruption probe leads to 29 arrests targeting municipal landscaping unit
29 arrested in an Istanbul corruption probe over alleged manipulation of public tenders at a city landscaping unit now tied to ousted mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
A coordinated law enforcement operation in Istanbul has resulted in the detention of 29 people as part of an Istanbul corruption probe into alleged manipulation of public procurement, officials and local media said. Prosecutors allege the arrests are connected to a municipal subsidiary responsible for landscaping and tree care, which they say steered tenders in violation of procurement rules. State news agency Anadolu reported the detentions and identified the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office as the lead investigative authority. The inquiry forms a strand of a wider case that has already ensnared the city’s dismissed mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
29 arrests in probe into municipal tenders
Authorities arrested 29 individuals and carried out searches linked to public procurement for landscaping and urban maintenance, Anadolu reported. The prosecutor’s office has accused the suspects of manipulating bidding processes to benefit particular firms, a practice that would constitute procurement fraud under Turkish criminal law.
Investigators described the detentions as part of an ongoing criminal investigation rather than a single sweep, and said inquiries continue into financial records and contract awards. Officials indicated one suspect was believed to be abroad and that further summonses and searches could follow as the probe develops.
Landscaping subsidiary at center of investigation
At the heart of the probe is a municipal subsidiary responsible for public landscaping and tree maintenance, which prosecutors say managed contracts that are now under scrutiny. Investigators allege irregularities in how tenders were advertised, evaluated and awarded, with potential collusion between officials and contractors.
Searches at the subsidiary were reported by Turkish media and appear to have focused on procurement documentation and internal communications. Prosecutors say those records will be crucial to proving whether tender procedures were manipulated to favor specific bidders.
Deputy city official Oktay Özel among detainees, papers say
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet reported that the city administration’s deputy secretary-general, Oktay Özel, was among those detained in the latest round of arrests. Law enforcement sources said searches included offices linked to the subsidiary and the municipality, though authorities have not publicly released a full list of the detained individuals’ identities.
Local reporting also noted that the investigation has targeted both public servants and private contractors, reflecting prosecutors’ view that an organized effort may have been used to influence procurement outcomes. Officials caution that detentions do not equate to convictions and that suspects will face formal charges only if prosecutors file indictments.
Charges facing Ekrem İmamoğlu and the broader case
The recent arrests are connected to a larger criminal case that names Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former mayor of Istanbul and a leading opposition figure, among the accused. İmamoğlu was arrested and removed from office in March 2025, and prosecutors have since pursued a wide-ranging investigation that now includes more than 400 co-defendants, according to court filings and public statements.
Prosecutors have charged İmamoğlu with leading a criminal organization and listed dozens of alleged offenses; court papers reportedly enumerate 142 separate alleged crimes and cite potential sentences that could amount to thousands of years in prison if convictions were sustained. İmamoğlu and his legal team deny the allegations and have described the charges as baseless.
Political reaction and allegations of judicial partiality
Turkey’s main opposition parties and İmamoğlu’s supporters have denounced the probe as politically motivated and have accused the government of using the judiciary to sideline a potential presidential challenger. Opposition leaders argue the timing and scale of the legal actions aim to prevent İmamoğlu from mounting a national campaign against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The government and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) reject claims of political interference and say the investigations are independent and necessary to uphold the rule of law. State institutions have released statements asserting that probes target alleged criminal activity regardless of the individuals’ political affiliations.
Legal process and international attention
The unfolding case has drawn significant domestic attention and is likely to be watched by foreign governments and investors concerned about rule-of-law issues in Turkey. Legal experts say the complexity of corruption and procurement cases—especially those involving hundreds of defendants—can produce lengthy investigations and protracted trials.
Judicial observers emphasize that the outcome will hinge on documentary evidence, witness testimony and the courts’ assessment of whether procedures were followed in both the procurement process and the investigation itself. Human rights and rule-of-law organizations have called for transparent proceedings and due process for all defendants.
The arrests mark a significant escalation in an investigation that has already reshaped Istanbul’s municipal leadership and intensified political tensions in Turkey. As prosecutors continue to gather evidence, the court process is expected to proceed in multiple stages and could take months or years to reach final determinations.
