Cafer Mahiroğlu Investigation: Seven Detained in Izmir Bribery Probe

A court ordered the detention of seven suspects in an investigation coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and carried out by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board. Twelve suspects were brought before the court after their police procedures were completed.

Four suspects were placed under house arrest, while one suspect was released under judicial control measures. The investigation concerns alleged bribery, bid rigging, and laundering of assets derived from crime.

“An unrecorded bribe payment of 14 million 464 thousand Turkish liras was made in connection with tender processes.”

According to the investigation, Cafer Mahiroğlu allegedly organized the establishment of Bustech Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Services Inc. and assigned its management to individuals using his connections with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality.

Authorities allege that an unrecorded bribe payment of 14 million 464 thousand Turkish liras was made in connection with tender processes, causing public loss through overpriced invoices. Illegitimate income was allegedly transferred to a company pool linked to Mahiroğlu.

MASAK reported that total financial transactions through companies managed or partnered by Mahiroğlu exceeded 30 billion 352 million Turkish liras. Suspicious international SWIFT transfers were also detected in the accounts of Mahiroğlu and his first-degree relatives.

Trustees were appointed to the companies, and access to their social media accounts was blocked.