Istanbul police detain construction company owners known for urban transformation projects

ISTANBUL

Istanbul police detained the owners of Keten İnşaat, known for its urban transformation projects, on Aug. 9.

Rıza Keten and Selahattin Keten were detained by organized crime police along with company staff.

The reason for their detention was not immediately clear as a confidentiality order has been issued regarding their file.

Daily Habertürk reported that the two brothers were detained as a part of an investigation into the murder of the deputy Şişli mayor, Cemil Candaş, who was shot dead at the municipality building in July 2016.

A source from the company told daily Hürriyet that no one was detained other than the Keten brothers.

Hacı Avcı, one of the defendants in the case on Candaş’s murder, stated in March that Selahattin Keten had “problems with many people,” including Şişli Mayor Hayri İnönü, over the company’s projects. Avcı also said Candaş had received threats before he was killed.

Six people were arrested as a part of the investigation into Çandaş’s killing.