According to court records, the İstanbul 1. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi has delivered verdicts in a major municipal corruption trial involving 63 actions, handing down prison sentences to several former and removed mayors while acquitting others of specific organization and bribery charges during the 60th hearing held at the courtroom across from the Marmara Kapalı Ceza İnfaz Kurumu.
Court Verdicts and Prison Sentences for Municipal Officials
The judicial panel sentenced removed Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat to a total of 23 years, 3 months, and 7 days in prison on charges of “ihaleye fesat karıştırma”, “2 kez rüşvet” and “aklama”, according to the court proceedings. In the same rulings announced by Mahkeme Başkanı Oğuzhan Gül, removed Adana Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Zeydan Karalar received a 6 years and 3 months prison sentence for “rüşvet”, while Adıyaman Belediye Başkanı Abdurrahman Tutdere was acquitted of the same charge.
Other officials faced significant penalties as well. Removed Seyhan Belediye Başkanı Oya Tekin ile eşi Celal Tekin were each sentenced to 8’er yıl 4’er ay in prison for “rüşvet”. Removed Avcılar Belediye Başkanı Utku Caner Çaykara received 6 yıl 8 ay for “rüşvet” but was acquitted of “ihaleye fesat karıştırma”. Removed Esenyurt Belediye Başkanı Ahmet Özer received an 8 ay 10 gün sentence for “ihmal suretiyle görevi kötüye kullanma” with hükmün açıklanmasının geri bırakılmasına karar veren mahkeme, alongside acquittals for “ihaleye fesat karıştırma” ile “özel belgede sahtecilik”. Removed Ceyhan Belediye Başkanı Kadir Aydar was sentenced to 5 yıl 10 ay for “rüşvet”.
Additionally, defendant Alican Abacı received a total of 18 yıl 6 ay 22 gün in prison for “aklama” and “rüşvet”, with the court issuing an arrest warrant. Tutsuz sanık Beşiktaş Belediyesi Başkan Yardımcısı Ozan İş was sentenced to 6 yıl 8 ay for “rüşvet”. The bench ordered the continued detention of Rıza Akpolat, Oya Tekin, and Celal Tekin, while deciding to release Ceyhan Kayhan and Erhan Daka.
Acquittals and Judicial Evaluation of Charges
The court issued several acquittals concerning organization-related accusations. Unarrested defendants Aziz İhsan Aktaş ile Baki Nugay were acquitted of “örgüt kurma” because it was not established that they committed the alleged acts. Rıza Akpolat and other defendants were also cleared of “örgüte üye olma”, and various defendants received acquittals for “örgüte yardım”.
Explaining the legal reasoning for the 43 actions covered in the initial phase of the ruling, Mahkeme Başkanı Oğuzhan Gül stated that despite evidence of familial ties or participatory intent among some defendants, concrete elements required by precedent—such as coming together to commit crimes, a chain of command, a hierarchical bond, and suitability to commit the charged acts—were absent. Regarding forgery charges, Gül pointed out that the inability to obtain a significant portion of original documents, changing statements from firm owners about their consent, and defense arguments regarding email transmissions meant the elements of the crime were not formed.
On the matter of tender rigging, Gül noted that while inviting the same or related firms, taking approximate cost offers from them, and using negotiated or partial procedures raised suspicion, convictions required sufficient corroborating side evidence of criminal intent for each specific action and defendant; otherwise, acquittals were issued based on the evaluation of duties, job descriptions, and defense statements.
Did You Know? The court’s reading of the decisions for the 63 actions in the indictment took approximately two hours as the bench reviewed a 60-page written judgment.
Expert Insight: According to Mahkeme Başkanı Gül, all decisions were reached unanimously by the judicial panel, and the legal process remains subject to the appeals court system, as the path of appeal (istinaf) is open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prison sentence did Rıza Akpolat receive?
According to the court ruling, removed Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat was sentenced to a total of 23 years, 3 months, and 7 days in prison for “ihaleye fesat karıştırma”, “2 kez rüşvet” and “aklama”.
Were all defendants convicted of charges related to criminal organizations?
No, the court acquitted unarrested defendants Aziz İhsan Aktaş ile Baki Nugay of “örgüt kurma”, and also cleared Rıza Akpolat and other co-defendants of “örgüte üye olma” due to a lack of concrete hierarchical and structural elements.
Is further legal review available for these verdicts?
Yes, Mahkeme Başkanı Oğuzhan Gül stated that the decisions were taken unanimously and that the path of appeal (istinaf) is open.
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