Istanbul’s Avcılar mayor released pending trial in graft case
Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara was released pending trial on Aug. 6 in a high-profile corruption case involving allegations that businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş organized a bribery network to influence municipal tenders.
Çaykara’s release reduced the number of jailed mayors from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the case to two. Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat and Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin remain in custody.
The court granted Çaykara’s release during a routine review of pretrial detention, citing the 14 months he had spent in prison. He will remain under judicial supervision. Seyhan Municipality’s Cleaning Works Director Özcan Zenger was also released under similar conditions.
The next ruling in the case is expected on Aug. 24 following the completion of hearings.
