Turkish Opposition Leader Alleges Four Major Corruption Scandals in Istanbul, Warns: “It’s Either the Canal or Istanbul!”

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel publicly claims massive public loss in land sales and price manipulation in municipal asphalt tenders, demanding immediate legal action.

ISTANBUL – During a major public rally in Arnavutköy, the Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, laid out four serious corruption allegations targeting local government practices in Istanbul. Özel’s accusations focused on potential illicit gains linked to the Kanal Istanbul mega-project, as well as significant price discrepancies and alleged interference in municipal contracting, amounting to hundreds of millions in public loss. The opposition leader publicly called on the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to initiate immediate investigations based on the evidence he presented.

Kanal Istanbul: A Project Driven by Land Speculation

Özel began his speech by vehemently criticizing the Kanal Istanbul project, framing it not as a necessity, but as a risk-driven scheme to serve land speculators.

• Environmental Risk: He cited the consensus among scientists and the opposition of local residents, warning that the construction would require the demolition of the Sazlıdere Dam—an unprecedented action by a government—and lead to the salinization of the Terkos Lake, risking the loss of one-third of Istanbul’s water supply.
• The Motive: Özel alleged the project’s true purpose is to create “Canal-view plots” for associates who previously purchased land in the area, stating they have already received their “rewards” (referring to land speculation). The demographic warning was stark: “It is either the Canal or Istanbul!”

Four Scandals Revealed: Focus on Financial Irregularities

Özel then shifted to what he termed “four major scandals,” directly addressing the Chief Public Prosecutor’s office to investigate documented electronic records.

Scandal 1: Extreme Price Gouging in Asphalt Tenders

The first financial irregularity involved the price differences in municipal asphalt procurement, comparing CHP and AKP-led districts.

• The Discrepancy: While CHP-run municipalities (like Maltepe and Tuzla) paid approximately ₺2,600 – ₺2,700 per ton, the AKP-run Bağcılar Municipality paid ₺3,557, and the AKP-run Arnavutköy Municipality paid a staggering ₺6,501 per ton for the exact same asphalt.
• Contracting Allegations: Özel claimed that despite lower bids from other firms, the Arnavutköy municipality delayed signing the contract for over a month, forcing the winning bidder to withdraw. This manipulation allegedly inflated the final cost of the contract from an estimated ₺587 million to ₺708 million.

Scandal 2: Failure to Demolish an Illegal Structure

This incident involved a blatant disregard for a judicial order regarding a building code violation.

• The Violation: A 300-square-meter illegal addition was constructed on Parcel No. 10835 in Hadımköy. A court ordered its demolition in October 2024.
• Deceptive Response: When the GOP Prosecutor’s Office inquired in June 2025, the Deputy Mayor, Davut Paralı, allegedly sent a false letter claiming the structure “had been removed.” Özel stated this constitutes interference with the judiciary and a false statement to the public prosecutor.

Scandal 3: Officials Transferred for Refusing Illegal Signatures

The third allegation detailed the coercion of municipal personnel concerning an illegally expanded villa.

• Illegal Construction: Özel claimed that high-ranking local officials purchased land along the proposed Kanal Istanbul route and secured a villa permit. However, they illegally extended the building beyond the scope of the permit.
• Staff Coercion: When two municipal employees (Serdar and Fatih) refused to sign off on the unauthorized modifications, citing that the signatures would expose them to prosecution, they were allegedly transferred from their positions. Subsequently, the illegal signatures were obtained by replacement personnel.

Scandal 4: ₺185 Million Public Loss in Land Sale

The final and most costly allegation concerned the undervaluation and sale of public property.

• The Transaction: An 8,000-square-meter property and building, previously owned by a defunct sub-municipality, was sold by the Arnavutköy Municipality to an AKP Provincial Executive, Burak Aydın, for ₺251 million.
• The Damage: Özel presented figures showing the property’s total combined market value (land and structure) was ₺435 million. The sale, therefore, resulted in an estimated ₺185 million public loss (Kamu Zararı).

Özel concluded by reiterating that all documentary evidence is recorded and accessible, demanding the Chief Public Prosecutor’s office initiate a full investigation into the municipal officials involved.