Controversy Surrounds Istanbul Municipality Tenders Linked to Former Minister’s Family

A significant controversy has emerged concerning tenders awarded by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) during the previous AK Party administration. Recent investigations have revealed that a company closely linked to former Treasury and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati's family was awarded numerous contracts resulting in substantial financial losses to the public.

  Investigations carried out under current IBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu—now imprisoned at Silivri Prison—have uncovered that Muhammed Attila Sevim, Nebati’s nephew, was involved in 32 separate tenders awarded by IBB and its affiliated entities between 2013 and 2019. The cumulative public loss from these tenders, according to IBB assessments, totals approximately 72 million Turkish lira. One specific case attracting significant attention involved a tender from October 30, 2018, awarded to Medya A.Ş., an IBB subsidiary, for “Promotion and Media Work of Investment Organizations,” amounting to 26.58 million TL. A detailed review by IBB concluded that nearly all contracted tasks were improperly executed, yet payments totaling approximately 15.45 million TL were nevertheless made, representing significant public loss. By current valuations, this figure equates to about 71.7 million TL. Despite IBB formally submitting this finding to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office—accusing former IBB Deputy Secretary General Adil Karaismailoğlu and other individuals and companies involved in the contract—the Prosecutor’s Office ultimately decided “not to prosecute.” Further investigation into the companies involved reveals a pattern of questionable timing and administrative decisions. Sevim's original company, İnfoloji Teknoloji ve İnovasyon A.Ş., was founded in 2016 and subsequently renamed “Manastır Etkinlik Tasarım ve Yazılım Hizmetleri A.Ş.” on July 26, 2019, shortly after İmamoğlu’s election victory. Data from the Public Procurement Authority shows that another of Sevim’s companies, İnfoloji Kurumsal Danışmanlık Hizmetleri Ltd., was awarded 32 tenders from the municipality between 2013 and 2019. Particularly noteworthy is a tender issued on March 22, 2019—just nine days before the critical municipal elections on March 31, 2019. Despite İmamoğlu's victory in these elections, due to election disputes, he officially assumed office only on April 17, 2019. Sevim, who graduated from Yıldız Technical University and whose master's advisor was Hayri Baraçlı—then General Director of IETT and Secretary General of IBB—had extensive business dealings with IBB during Baraçlı’s tenure. Baraçlı has since moved on to become Secretary General of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. Adding another layer of complexity, in 2020, Muhammed Attila Sevim married Emine Ceylan Nebati, niece of Nureddin Nebati, further deepening political and familial connections. This unfolding situation continues to raise critical questions regarding transparency, accountability, and governance practices in municipal management.