Corruption crackdown hits Türkiye’s Izmir as two sitting mayors detained

Twenty-four people, including two sitting mayors, have been detained in the Turkish city of Izmir as part of a corruption and bribery investigation.

During the third wave of operations, authorities detained Onur Yiğit, the mayor of Balçova district, and İsmail Yetişkin, the mayor of Seferihisar district, along with municipal employees and business representatives, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The investigation is being conducted under charges of corruption and bribery. According to prosecutors, the suspects allegedly received and distributed bribes in cash and through bank transfers in exchange for providing unlawful assistance to developers and contractors in construction and zoning matters.

Investigators also identified a number of suspicious financial transactions that are being examined as possible bribe payments. Some of the transactions reportedly took place in the period leading up to the municipal elections held on March 31, 2024.

A total of 24 suspects were detained during the morning operation, while the investigation remains ongoing.

By Jeyhun Aghazada