Objection to Tunç Soyer's detention

The lawyers of former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer have objected to the arrest warrant issued as part of an investigation into the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. The petition submitted by Murat Aydın, Özkan Yücel, and Haluk İsmet Köymen to the Izmir 2nd Criminal Court of Peace stated, "This investigation, which has not revealed a single instance of fraud or scheme against Tunç Soyer, is not about fraud, but about a local government effort aimed at ensuring that the public lives in affordable and safe housing. This investigation, which fails to allege a single penny of benefit to Tunç Soyer, is not about fraud, but about the Halk Konut model. This investigation is an investigation into the aspiration and implementation of 'economic democracy.' This investigation is about cooperatives in urban transformation."

The petition stated, “The core of the cooperative idea was the ‘Halk Konut’ model implemented in Bayraklı after the October 30th earthquake. The essence of the model is this: The housing to be built through the building cooperatives will belong to the owners and cooperative members who have transferred their title deeds to the municipality for urban renewal purposes, in accordance with the contract. During this process, İZBETON will support citizens in acquiring housing at a near-zero profit. In this way, contracts have been signed between dozens of apartment buildings and İZBETON, and the construction in question is nearly complete. Moreover, İZBB has not only imposed this model but also ensured that contractors take responsibility by continuing to hold tenders. Many project sites tendered in this way have been completed and delivered to their beneficiaries.” The petition of objection stated, "As part of the investigation, three inspections were conducted by the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, one inspection by the Civil Inspectorate, and one inspection by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Internal Audit Unit. Even if the legal assessment errors, inaccurate, and incomplete information in the reports prepared by the administrative units are accepted as true, there are no allegations, evidence, or findings that would lead to the occurrence of the crimes subject to the investigation conducted by the prosecutor's office. At the request of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which is conducting the investigation, two expert committee reports were prepared, dated February 21, 2025, and June 2, 2025. The expert reports obtained by the prosecutor's office, especially the report dated June 2, 2025, are significantly in favor of the case. The expert committee determined that the majority of the transactions conducted were in compliance with the procedure and law."

"His release must be decided"

In the conclusion and request section of the petition, it was stated that "Since the detention of our client would be contrary to the law and the content of the investigation; We demand that the arrest warrant of the İzmir 2nd Criminal Court of Peace dated 04.07.2025 and numbered 2025/1223 Inquiry be reviewed and lifted by your Judgeship, which issued the decision pursuant to Article 268/1 of the CMK, and that although our objection was filed against the release of our client Mustafa Tunç Soyer and the decisions regarding the arrest, detention and extension of the detention period given about our client, our objection was not evaluated, therefore, a decision be made on our objections, and if this request is not found to be based, my objection be sent to the İzmir Criminal Court of First Instance for review pursuant to Article 268/3-b of the CMK, and that our objection be accepted as a result of the review to be carried out by the İzmir Criminal Court of First Instance, and that the arrest warrant of the İzmir 2nd Criminal Court of Peace dated 04.07.2025 and numbered 2025/1223 Inquiry be lifted." "We respectfully request on behalf of our client that the decision be lifted and our client Mustafa Tunç Soyer be released."

Source: ANKA