Imagine a city where contracts are awarded not on merit, but on the size of the bribe slipped under the table. That’s precisely the picture painted by a recent indictment against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former mayor of Istanbul, and it’s a scandal that could shake Turkish politics to its core. The indictment details a web of alleged corruption, with company owners confessing to funneling illegal payments to a municipality-owned landscaping subsidiary in exchange for lucrative contracts. This isn’t just about lining pockets; it’s about a potential abuse of power that could have influenced elections and distorted fair competition.
The heart of the alleged scheme revolves around Ağaç A.Ş., or “Tree Inc.,” a landscaping company owned and operated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB). Prosecutors claim that under İmamoğlu’s watch, Ağaç A.Ş. became a hub for bribery, demanding kickbacks from suppliers in return for extending their contracts. İmamoğlu, who was in office until March 2025 before his arrest on corruption charges, now faces a battery of charges including running a criminal enterprise that extorted businesses for construction and zoning permits.
But here’s where it gets controversial… The indictment alleges that these bribes weren’t just for personal enrichment. Instead, prosecutors believe they were funneled into a broader “system” designed to share illegal revenues and, even more explosively, to fund İmamoğlu’s election campaigns, as well as those of his party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). If these allegations prove true, it would represent a significant breach of public trust and raise serious questions about the integrity of Turkish elections.
The indictment claims that Ağaç A.Ş. systematically demanded bribes equal to 10% of the contract value from its suppliers. Let’s delve into specific examples:
Ensar Güney, owner of Güney Çiçekçilik, a flower supplier, testified that he delivered approximately TL 100 million (Turkish Lira) worth of products to Ağaç A.Ş. between 2023 and 2024. According to his statement, after facing payment delays, he was approached by Purchasing Manager Umit Polat, who allegedly informed him that Ali Sukas, the head of Ağaç A.Ş., was demanding 10% from all suppliers. Güney claims that instead of the roughly TL 10 million “requested”, he paid Sukas 35,000 euros in October 2024 and $15,000 in February 2025 in cash, along with gift cards worth TL 352,250 to Polat. Financial records from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) seem to support Güney’s account.
Another supplier, Savaş Bayraktar, owner of Durusu Fidancılık, testified that he sold about TL 45 million worth of products to Ağaç A.Ş. in 2023 and 2024. He alleges that Polat asked him for money, supposedly due to the upcoming election, stating that payments would only be processed on those conditions. Bayraktar claims he was initially asked for $50,000, but ultimately handed Polat TL 500,000 in cash. Again, MASAK reports seem to corroborate this, showing a TL 4 million transfer from Ağaç A.Ş. to Durusu Fidancılık followed by Bayraktar’s withdrawal of TL 500,000 and Polat’s deposit of TL 52,000 in cash. Prosecutors point out that Bayraktar continuing to work with Ağaç A.Ş. after this alleged payment suggests “intent to bribe.” And this is the part most people miss… it highlights the pressure these business owners may have felt, caught between losing their contracts and potentially breaking the law.
The indictment also includes statements from Bünyamin Durukan, owner of Istanbul Botanik, and Aleaddin Vardar, owner of Çağlayan Tarım, both of whom claim they faced similar bribery demands to receive payments. Durukan stated that he paid $15,000 in cash after being told that “money was being requested from above.” Vardar claims he paid a total of $40,000 in two installments after being asked to support the 2024 local elections.
Adding another layer to the alleged corruption, Ahmet Sarı testified that Ali Sukas requested vehicles for his spouse’s parliamentary campaign. Sarı said he complied due to the large sums owed to him by Ağaç A.Ş. and its affiliates. License plate data and images allegedly confirm that nine vehicles were used in election activities, leading prosecutors to conclude that these vehicles constituted benefits passed to the “Imamoğlu criminal organization.”
This indictment paints a disturbing picture of alleged corruption at the highest levels of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. But here’s the question that sparks debate: Is this a genuine effort to combat corruption, or a politically motivated attack against a prominent opposition figure? Is it possible that some of these payments were legitimate business expenses misinterpreted as bribes? And what responsibility, if any, should be placed on the business owners who allegedly participated in this “system”?
What are your thoughts on the details revealed in this indictment? Do you believe the evidence presented is compelling? Let us know in the comments below!