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
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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. Prosecutors allege municipal staff pressured contractors seeking permits to sign 'consultancy service' contracts with Kent AS, which had no authority to issue permits; according to Financial Crimes Investigation Board findings reported by bianet, contracts worth 1.08 billion lira were signed and 361.4 million lira (about $16 million) collected, part of it allegedly passed to municipal employees. NTV reported that a court ordered four suspects, including Dedetas, arrested; none has been convicted and these are allegations under investigation.
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- NTV
Uskudar Mayor Sinem Dedetas and six suspects were detained in an operation targeting the municipality; four were later formally arrested.
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