Turkish authorities said it has detained at least 18 people as part of their corruption probe targeting employees of Istanbul’s municipality, state media reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, prosecutors had issued warrants for 22 suspects, including the municipality’s media director Taner Çetin, on charges ranging from bribery and bid-rigging to membership in a criminal organisation, said broadcaster TRT.

The investigation alleged that there were irregularities in public tenders involving municipal subsidiaries.

While the prosecutors claimed that Mr Çetin, a deputy of the ousted and jailed mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, helped steer contracts to favoured companies in exchange for kickbacks, TRT reported.

Mr İmamoğlu, Turkey’s main opposition CHP, was removed from office in March following a court ruling; an appeal is pending.

He is widely seen as the strongest challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The mayor separately faces jail in other ongoing probes, including accusations of terror links.

Mr İmamoğlu’s ouster drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, rights groups and international observers, who accused Mr Erdoğan’s government of using the judiciary to sideline political rivals ahead of elections scheduled for 2028. 

(NAN)