Istanbul court announces verdict in opposition mayors’ case
An Istanbul court on Aug. 24 delivered its verdict in the trial of seven opposition mayors and municipal officials, acquitting businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who had been referred to as the alleged ringleader of a criminal organization, of charges of establishing an organization to manipulate tenders.
The case was brought over allegations that Aktaş bribed mayors and municipal officials to orchestrate public tenders. The court ruled that Aktaş was acquitted of the charges of “establishing a criminal organization.” However, he was sentenced to two years in prison for rigging public tenders and was also banned from participating in public tenders for two years.
The court was issuing separate verdicts for each defendant over their alleged roles in more than 60 acts involving bid-rigging, while the reading of the full verdict was expected to continue until the evening.
Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara was acquitted of two charges.
