The mayor of Izmit has been detained as part of a corruption investigation targeting the CHP-run municipality in Turkiye's Kocaeli Province.

Axar.az reports that detention warrants were issued for 31 people, including Izmit Mayor Fatma Kaplan Hurriyet and her husband, Murat Hurriyet.

Police detained the mayor and her husband and searched both the municipal building and their home. Simultaneous operations are reportedly ongoing in Antalya, Kirikkale, Izmit, Istanbul, and Ankara.

The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, focuses on several public tenders awarded by Izmit Municipality. It was launched based on suspects' statements and information provided by confidential witnesses.

Investigators allege that municipal officials had family ties to the owners of companies that won or took part in the tenders. They also claim the mayor's husband played a direct role in procurement procedures, recruitment, and personnel appointments.

The suspects face charges of forming a criminal organization, accepting bribes, and rigging public tenders.

Earlier in the investigation, the municipality's former procurement director, Mehmet S.V., was arrested, while the mayor's former driver, Huseyin E., was released after giving a statement.