Last Minute Bribery Scandal: 50 Million TL Offered for Irregular Tender in the IMM
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched investigations into IMM President Ekrem Imamoglu and 99 suspects for various charges including being part of a criminal organization, bribery, fraud, and mischievous tender activities. Among the suspects is also the deputy of the Mayor of the Prophet Muhammad, with allegations of aiding the PKK/KCK terrorist organization.
One of the key figures in this investigation is Murat Ongun, who is an advisor to IMM President and Chairman of IMM Media Inc. It is alleged that Ongun had gathered advertising tenders under one roof, leading to suspicions of irregular activities within the tender process.
Further scrutiny revealed that Imamoglu’s close friend, Hüseyin Köksal, was involved in a major advertising tender worth 400 million pounds. Despite not being a partner or having any commercial ties to the company at the time, Köksal allegedly received 50 million pounds in exchange for the irregular tender. The money was then transferred to the İmamoğlu Construction Trade and Industry Anonymous Company on the same day.
While the money was initially recorded as a land purchase from the construction company owned by Imamoglu, it was found that no actual project work was undertaken by the company. Evidence gathered from tender documents, title deed records, bank statements, and secret witness testimonies indicate a suspicious flow of funds from the advertising tender to İmamoğlu’s construction company.
This ongoing investigation sheds light on the alleged corruption and fraudulent activities within the tender processes of Istanbul Municipality, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in public procurement procedures.
