Jailed Bodrum mayor is dismissed

BODRUM - Hürriyet Daily News

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The Turkish Interior Ministry has ordered the dismissal of Bodrum Mayor Mehmet Kocadon, who has been held under arrest on fraud charges for the last two months.

Units from the Muğla Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department conducted an operation at the Bodrum Municipality in June and six people, including Kocadon, were arrested on charges of “bid rigging, misconduct in office, violating the privacy of information, and creating a criminal organization for the purpose of engaging in criminal activity.”

A series of demonstrations and campaigns demanding the mayor’s release were subsequently organized in Bodrum.

After the court approved the indictment, the Interior Ministry took action to dismiss Kocadon, who was informed about the decision by the Muğla Governor’s Office.

Kocadon’s lawyer, Mehmet Akif Türkoğlu, said nothing could be done about the dismissal for now.

“We are waiting for the hearing. We will file a law suit with the Administrative Court for his return to office after he is released. There is no point in opening the case now because he is still under arrest. We will initiate legal procedures after his release,” Türkoğlu said.