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An Antalya court has accepted a 1,849-page indictment filed as part of an investigation into ANSET, a company owned by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, opening a case against 55 defendants. The defendants include Muhittin Böcek, who was removed from duty as metropolitan mayor, and former secretary general Cansel Çevikkol Tuncer.

Fifteen of the 55 defendants are in custody. Prosecutors are seeking prison terms on charges including accepting and giving bribes, rigging tenders and laundering proceeds of crime.

Charges and sentencing demands

The indictment, prepared by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was accepted by Antalya 4th High Criminal Court. It calls for the 55 defendants, 15 of whom are jailed, to be convicted on charges of accepting bribes, giving bribes, rigging tenders and offences related to assets derived from crime.

For Böcek, prosecutors demand between 25 and 69 years in prison on charges of laundering proceeds of crime, rigging public tenders and the performance of contractual obligations, and accepting bribes from four people. Tuncer faces a requested sentence of nine to 21 years over rigging tenders and the performance of obligations, and laundering proceeds of crime.

Expert report calculates public loss

The indictment cites allegations of irregularities in tenders for events staged through ANSET between 2020 and 2025, including Foodfest, the Golden Orange Film Festival and the Piano Festival. Expert reports said combining separate service items under a single lump-sum price, transferring work to subcontractors and drawing up contracts without market research restricted competition and made financial oversight harder.

Reviews calculated a public loss of 113,426,440 lira. Some progress payments for accommodation, transport and promotion services were allegedly made without concrete evidence that the work had actually been carried out.

The indictment alleges that decision-making authority and final instruction power were concentrated in Böcek, and says Tuncer and some managers involved in financial oversight and operational processes also bore responsibility. It draws on expert reports, a report from an Interior Ministry chief inspector, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) data, bank transfers, call detail records and tender files.

Defendants reject the findings

Böcek rejected the accusations, saying in the prosecutor's statement included in the indictment that Böcek had issued no instructions contrary to procedure or law in tenders and had not caused losses to municipal resources. Böcek said there was no negligence or intent behind the amount described as public loss and did not accept the charges.

Tuncer said the assets in question came from family inheritance and savings accumulated over the years, and did not accept the public loss finding in the expert reports.

How the investigation unfolded

Twenty-seven suspects were detained on 30 April in simultaneous operations centered on Antalya and spanning seven provinces, and two more were later taken into custody as the investigation continued. Fourteen of the suspects were arrested and two were released under judicial supervision.

Tuncer, who had undergone surgery, was detained after being discharged from hospital and was arrested by the court that ruled on the matter. Of 25 suspects held in a second operation on 13 May, two were sent to prison.

The investigation examined allegations of irregularities in ANSET tenders, the provision of unjust gains and the laundering of criminal proceeds. The case will now proceed before Antalya 4th High Criminal Court.

Key takeaways

• An Antalya court accepted a 1,849-page indictment in the ANSET investigation, with 55 defendants, 15 of them in custody.
• Muhittin Böcek faces a demanded sentence of 25 to 69 years in prison; former secretary general Cansel Çevikkol Tuncer faces nine to 21 years.
• Expert reports calculated a public loss of 113,426,440 lira in tenders for events including Foodfest and the Golden Orange Film Festival.
• Both Böcek and Tuncer rejected the accusations and the reported public loss finding.