Mersin Mayor Vahap Seçer and two district mayors arrested in graft probe

A corruption investigation in Mersin led to the arrest of Metropolitan Mayor Vahap Seçer and the mayors of Yenişehir and Mezitli.

The Turkiye Times Editorial DeskOctober 06, 2026, 09:55 AMUpdated: October 06, 2026, 12:15 PM

Mersin Mayor Vahap Seçer and two district mayors arrested in graft probe

Mersin Metropolitan Mayor Vahap Seçer, Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit and Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer were arrested in a corruption investigation run by the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Of 60 suspects questioned, 50 were referred to court with arrest requests and 10 with requests for judicial control. The investigation file alleges public losses of about 331 million liras in 13 tenders and 63 direct procurements.

Mezitli Mayor Tuncer is also under a separate investigation on suspicion of “leading an armed criminal organization” over allegations that he had armed attacks carried out on the workplaces of people he was in conflict with. The targeted sites reportedly included the Mersin provincial headquarters of the Yeni Parti and the offices of a media group.