Mayor detained days after he quits politics

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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According to the Doğan news agency, Buca Mayor Cemil Şeboy, along with the other municipal employees and contractors, is charged with forming a criminal gang, corrupting state tenders, receiving bribes and dereliction of duty. It also reported that the number of detained could reach 40.

Şeboy, from the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, had applied to run for İzmir Greater Municipality mayoral post but was not chosen, the party opting for Taha Aksoy as its candidate for İzmir for the March 29 local elections instead.

Şenoy, who has been the mayor of Buca for the past 15 years, was thought to be considering running for Buca once again but in a press conference last Friday, said he would be quitting politics.

Tired of the dirt

He said he was tired of "all the dirt that accompanied politics."While many were surprised by the decision, some argued that Şeboy’s withdrawal had more to do with the corruption investigation he was facing rather than any stance against politics in general. The Gendarmerie and police officers searched the mayoral building and seized several documents yesterday after the arrests.