Sinem Dedetaş, the suspended mayor of Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, was released from prison on Thursday and placed under house arrest, after about three months in pretrial detention in an investigation into building permits at the municipality.
Her lawyer, Akın Atalay, announced on X that following a release application she would be freed with a judicial control measure in the form of house arrest, Euronews Türkçe reported. Neither Euronews nor Demirören News Agency (DHA) named the court that issued the order.
Left Karatepe prison in Çorlu
DHA reported that Dedetaş left Karatepe prison in Çorlu, in Tekirdağ province, at around 15:45 after the release procedures were completed. She left in her lawyer’s car and did not make a statement to reporters waiting outside, according to DHA.
Permit investigation
The investigation, run by the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, concerns alleged irregularities in building and occupancy (iskan) permits issued by the Üsküdar municipality. According to Euronews Türkçe, the charges include bribery, extortion and forming or managing an organisation to commit crimes. Prosecutors allege that contractors were made to sign consultancy contracts with the municipal company Kent AŞ and that money was demanded in return for permit processing, the report said.
Dedetaş was detained on 29 July and arrested on 31 July, and the Interior Ministry suspended her from office on 1 August as a temporary measure, Euronews Türkçe reported. In her statement to prosecutors she denied the allegations, saying she gave no instruction to collect money from contractors.
Sources
- Sinem Dedetaş, cezaevinden tahliye oldu (DHA)
- Sinem Dedetaş hakkında ev hapsiyle tahliye kararı verildi (Euronews Türkçe)
- Görevden uzaklaştırılan Üsküdar Belediye Başkanı Sinem Dedetaş tahliye edildi (DHA via Son Dakika)
Photo: YG01 / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
