Turkish court arrests Ankara district mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu in corruption probe

A Turkish court has ordered the arrest of 40 people, including Erdal Beşikçioğlu, the mayor of Ankara's Etimesgut district, following a corruption investigation into municipal operations.

The arrests stem from an inquiry led by the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Authorities initially detained 55 individuals, targeting alleged irregularities in public tenders, the creation of forged documents, and misconduct involving zoning and licensing procedures within the municipality governed by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

While 40 suspects were remanded in custody pending trial, four others were released under judicial control conditions. Beşikçioğlu, a prominent former actor who was elected mayor in the March 2024 local elections, remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue.

Sources: Bianet.