Istanbul's Chief Prosecutor's Office has approved a new wave of arrests of city officials as part of an investigation into corruption in the city's mayor's office. As reported by the Habertürk television channel, arrest warrants have been issued for 47 suspects.
As part of the fifth wave of arrests, 30 suspects have been taken into police custody so far. They include the mayors of three major districts of Istanbul, as well as two mayors of municipalities in the southern Turkish city of Adana, who have also become the subject of the investigation. In addition, those detained include a number of mid-level officials from Istanbul's mayor's office, senior executives of companies affiliated with the city government, as well as members of parliament and representatives of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
These individuals are involved in a number of episodes of the corruption investigation into Istanbul's mayor's office. They could be charged with bribery, extortion and participation in a criminal group. 11 of those named in the arrest warrant have not yet been found. Some of them are abroad. Police and investigators have carried out searches in municipal buildings in several districts of Istanbul.
Amid the arrests, the Istanbul Governor's Office ordered the closure of several metro stations and a funicular line in the city center around Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue. The bus station will be closed from 3 p.m. on Saturday until further notice. Trains will run without stopping at the closed stations.
On March 19, police detained more than 90 Istanbul mayors, including Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, on suspicion of corruption and terrorist ties. On March 23, the mayor of Istanbul was arrested on corruption charges. He is being held in Silivri prison in western Istanbul. Since then, there have been several more waves of arrests of dozens of city hall officials. Imamoglu and most of the city's district municipality leaders represent the main opposition Republican People's Party.