Prosecutors allege Uskudar's mayor's office used a municipal company with no permitting authority to extract about $16 million in 'consultancy' fees from building contractors

Istanbul police detained Uskudar district Mayor Sinem Dedetas and five others, including her deputy mayor, an adviser, her chief of staff and the general director of municipal subsidiary Kent AS, on July 29, 2026. The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating bribery, extortion through abuse of office, and forming a criminal organization.