The raid was ordered by the Diyarbakır Chief Prosecutors' Office and targeted Diyarbakır, İstanbul, İzmir, Adana, Mersin, Van, Şırnak, Mardin and Elazığ provinces. The office said it received intelligence that DTP-run municipalities were involved in rampant corruption in janitorial service tenders. The Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality recently held a tender to take over the city's cleaning and sanitation services.
Thirty-four people, including Municipal Sanitation Department head İrfan Kaval, Tender Commission head Bünyamin Kayacan, former Mazıdağı Mayor Nuran Atlı and Sait Kantarcıoğlu, who is an advisor to Van Mayor Bekir Kaya, were detained by the police. Süleyman Demirtaş, the brother of DTP parliamentary group deputy chairman Selahattin Demirtaş, was also reportedly searched. During a search of Diyarbakır City Hall, the police examined documents regarding a tender contract between the metropolitan municipality and Diyar Inc. Two folders were confiscated and added to the investigation file.
Individuals detained in the Diyarbakır operation include municipal workers, among others. Several public servants and private company officials also stand accused of corruption in the tender. The operation in Van is believed to be related to the recently held janitorial company tenders. Süleyman Demirtaş is the owner of the company that won the tender offered by the Van Municipality.
Supreme Court of Accounts officials said they detected irregularities in Diyar Inc.'s books and conducted an operation based on their findings. All of Diyar Inc.'s accounts will be looked into and revenue and expense details will be investigated carefully, the same source said.
