Court finds mayor ‘not guilty’ in bus purchase

ISTANBUL

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş is accused of malpractice in selecting the Dutch Phileas buses for newly developed lines of the Metrobus network.

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş has been acquitted in a case alleging malpractice in the acquisition of Metrobus vehicles for the city, which operate on a separate preference road.

Topbaş himself was present at the hearing at an Istanbul court, which was also attended by representatives from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

He was accused of malpractice in selecting the Dutch Phileas buses for newly developed lines of the Metrobus network, rather than Capa City, which had offered better financial conditions.

Topbaş was questioned over allegedly causing losses worth nearly 18 million Turkish Liras for the municipality in the tender process, which acquired 50 buses.

He stated that he was not involved in the tender, as it was Istanbul’s transportation company, IETT, that was in charge of the process. Nineteen other suspects in the case were also acquitted.