Turkish authorities detained 29 suspects in an investigation over alleged corruption through a landscaping subsidiary of Istanbul metropolitan municipality, state news agency Anadolu reported on Friday.
The operation is part of ongoing investigations into alleged activities by a “criminal organization established under the leadership of Ekrem Imamoglu,” the jailed Istanbul mayor and a key opposition figure, Anadolu cited Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office as saying.
Prosecutors allege the group manipulated public procurement processes and interfered in tenders. One more suspect sought for detention remains abroad, it added.
Among those detained were the city deputy secretary general, while authorities also carried out a search at the municipal tree services subsidiary, according to the Cumhuriyet daily.
The raid marks another expansion of sweeping investigations into Istanbul municipality-linked companies and officials, which opposition figures have described as politically motivated. Turkish government denies the investigations are politically driven but argue they are part of due judicial process.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has publicly repeatedly threatened the opposition of new waves of raids over alleged graft.
