Turkey orders detention of 36 suspects in bribery probe

The Turkish prosecutor has ordered the detention of 36 people, including the ​mayor of an Ankara district held by ‌the main opposition, as part of an investigation into alleged bribery and tender rigging, the Ankara chief ​prosecutor's office said on Saturday.

Authorities have ​detained 27 of the suspects as searches ⁠continued for the others, the prosecutor's office ​said in a statement.

In a post on X, ​Huseyin Can Guner, mayor of Ankara's Cankaya district and a representative of the Republican People's Party, known as ​the CHP, said he informed authorities of ​his whereabouts and had provided a spare key to ‌his ⁠home for officers conducting a search while he is on his way to Ankara.

"Since taking office, we have managed this institution in the ​best possible ​way and ⁠have not engaged in the slightest conduct that would embarrass anyone ​who has placed their trust in ​us," ⁠Guner said.

The operation follows a series of investigations into municipalities run by the CHP. The government ⁠says ​the judiciary is independent. The ​CHP rejects the allegations and says the investigations are politically ​motivated.

-Reuters