A Turkish court has ordered the arrest of Alaattin Köseler, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayor of Istanbul’s Beykoz district, on charges of bid rigging and abuse of office. Köseler was detained on February 27, along with 18 others, including his chief of staff, following a police raid on his residence.
Corruption Allegations and Arrest Warrants
An Istanbul judge issued arrest warrants for 13 municipal officials linked to the Beykoz Municipality, while five others were released despite prosecutors’ requests for their detention. Authorities claim that Köseler directed his Chief of Staff, Veli Gümüş, to repeatedly award tenders to the same companies across 18 different procurement actions.
Prosecutors argue that multiple municipal procurements involved companies colluding with each other to manipulate the bidding process. As mayor, Köseler was allegedly responsible for overseeing, instructing, and supervising the tender process.
Köseler Denies Responsibility
Köseler defended himself, stating that finalizing municipal projects was within his authority, but he was being accused of issues beyond his direct control. “It is clear that the relevant managers are the addressees of the questions asked,” he asserted, emphasizing that operational decisions were handled by lower-level officials.
Second CHP Mayor Arrested Since 2024 Local Elections
Köseler’s arrest marks the second detention of a CHP mayor since the 2024 local elections. On October 30, 2024, Ahmet Özer, mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district, was also arrested—though on separate “terrorism” charges.
The high-profile arrests have sparked concerns over potential political motives, as Turkey’s opposition continues to face legal scrutiny ahead of the country’s shifting political landscape.