Prosecutor Seeks Up to 217 Years for Bolu Mayor Özcan in Extortion Case
Indictment alleges market chains were pressured into advertising deals benefiting a municipal foundation.
KEY POINTS
- Prosecutor seeks 69.5 to 217 years for Mayor Tanju Özcan on extortion, fraud, bribery charges.
- Indictment filed against 19 defendants; 4 detained including Özcan and former deputy mayor.
- Alleged scheme pressured markets to sign ad deals funding BolSev A.Ş. foundation company.
- Four chains signed contracts worth 8.712 million lira after alleged inspections and threats.
- A101 and ŞOK reportedly refused to sign; prosecutors request continued detention for jailed suspects.
A prosecutor has submitted an indictment to the Bolu 3rd Heavy Penal Court seeking prison sentences ranging from 69.5 to 217 years for Mayor Tanju Özcan on charges including extortion, fraud, and bribery. The indictment covers 19 defendants, four of whom are currently detained, including Özcan and former Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can.
The investigation centers on allegations that the municipality pressured local market chains into signing advertising contracts with BolSev A.Ş., a company linked to the Bolu Sevgi Vakfı foundation. According to the indictment, Özcan and Can met with market representatives who initially rejected the offers as too expensive.
Prosecutors allege that Özcan subsequently used threats and pressure, prompting municipal inspection teams to sanction non-compliant businesses. BİM, Nuhmar/1N, Carrefoursa, and Avantaj eventually signed deals worth a total of 8.712 million lira, while A101 and ŞOK refused.
The indictment categorizes the alleged offenses into six areas: markets, licenses, sacrificial meat, entitlements, concrete, and a cafe. For 18 other defendants, prosecutors requested varying sentences for charges including aiding extortion, perjury, and bribery.
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