A shocking revelation has emerged from Istanbul's political arena, exposing a web of corruption that reaches the highest levels of local government. In a recent indictment, 13 company owners have come forward, admitting to bribing a municipal landscaping company, Ağaç A.Ş., which was under the control of Istanbul's former mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, until his arrest in March 2025.
Imamoğlu is now facing serious charges for orchestrating a criminal ring that shook down businesses for money in exchange for construction permits. But here's where it gets controversial: the indictment alleges that the bribery scheme went beyond permits. Ağaç A.Ş. is accused of soliciting bribes worth 10% of the contract value from its suppliers, with the funds allegedly funneled into a secret system set up by Imamoğlu's criminal ring. And this is the part most people miss: these illicit funds were purportedly used to finance Imamoğlu's election campaigns and those of his party, the CHP.
The indictment details confessions from several company owners, painting a picture of systematic bribery. Ensar Güney, owner of Güney Çiçekçilik, claims he provided products worth millions to Ağaç A.Ş. and was then asked for a 10% cut by the company's head, Ali Sukas. Güney allegedly paid a portion of the requested sum to Sukas and the purchasing manager, Umit Polat, in cash and gift cards. Financial records seem to support Güney's claims.
Savaş Bayraktar, owner of Durusu Fidancılık, tells a similar story. He alleges that after selling products to Ağaç A.Ş., he was asked for money for the election by Polat. Bayraktar claims he couldn't provide the full amount but left cash on Polat's desk, which was later deposited into his company's account.
The indictment also implicates Bünyamin Durukan, owner of Istanbul Botanik, and Aleaddin Vardar, owner of Çağlayan Tarım, in the bribery scheme. Both admit to being pressured for payments, with Durukan allegedly giving cash to Polat, and Vardar allegedly providing funds for the local elections.
The indictment further alleges that vehicles were provided for Imamoğlu's spouse's parliamentary campaign, with tracking data confirming their use in election activities. This scandal raises questions about the integrity of Istanbul's political system and the role of businesses in local politics. Was this an isolated incident, or is it indicative of a deeper culture of corruption? The public awaits further revelations and the court's verdict on this complex case.
