ANKARA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Detention orders have been issued for 47 individuals, including Riza Akpolat, the mayor of Besiktas municipality in Istanbul province, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in municipal tender processes, said Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Monday.

An organized crime network was accused of bribing municipal leaders and senior officials to manipulate public tenders, the office said in a statement, adding that 47 suspects have been involved in the activities.

An investigation allegedly revealed that the crime network ensured its firms secured tender contracts, leading to a three-month surveillance operation targeting the suspects, the statement said.

Akpolat, who was elected Besiktas mayor in 2019, is from the main opposition Republican People's Party.

In addition, Ahmet Ozer, mayor of Esenyurt municipality in Istanbul province, who has already been arrested and removed from his office earlier on charges of "membership in an armed terrorist organization," is also involved in this investigation.

All suspects face charges of "membership in a criminal organization," "manipulating tenders" and "unlawful acquisition of assets." Enditem

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