Dialogos

Istanbul Municipality Permit Investigation Linked to Imamoglu's Alleged Affair - Sabah Report

Published January 16, 2026, 11:01
Istanbul Municipality Permit Investigation Linked to Imamoglu's Alleged Affair - Sabah Report

Turkish media, specifically the Sabah newspaper, is linking a wider investigation into alleged exchanges of building permits for properties in the Istanbul Municipality with an alleged extramarital affair involving Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The focus is on volleyball player Deria Ceyrgan, who is reportedly linked to Imamoglu. According to Sabah, Ceyrgan acquired an apartment in the Beylikduzu area at a significantly lower price than its actual value. The apartment is listed as being worth 4.1 million Turkish liras, while the payments reportedly totaled around 800,000 liras. Ceyrgan is said to have stated that she does not remember the details of the transactions. She was arrested as part of the investigation and released under house arrest and with a travel ban. Sabah also reports approximately 300 communications between Ceyrgan and Imamoglu, as well as hundreds more through the mayor's associate, with the latest occurring shortly before Imamoglu's arrest. In addition, there are records of hotel stays coinciding with the mayor's travels, and Ceyrgan is said to have admitted to visiting Imamoglu in Ankara. The case is being investigated as part of a broader inquiry into exchanges of permits and properties.