Yet another major judicial scandal has emerged in Turkey, as a prosecutor in Turkey’s Hatay province accused a judge of offering him a bribe in exchange for dropping a serious organized crime case. The allegations, backed by an audio recording, have exposed deep-seated corruption within the judiciary, with shocking revelations about bribery, dubious court decisions, and judicial interference in criminal investigations.
First Incident: The Bribery Allegation
In 2022, Hatay’s provincial police department launched an operation against a criminal gang altering chassis numbers on lorries. The gang enabled the registration of stolen or illegally acquired vehicles by changing their serial numbers, allowing them to be used on the roads without detection. The investigation, led by Hatay Public Prosecutor Abdussamed B., resulted in the seizure of 63 lorries and the initiation of a forensic examination.
According to the prosecutor’s complaint, Mert M., a lawyer at the Hatay Bar Association, persistently visited his office to inquire about the status of the investigation. When the lawyer failed in his attempt, a judge, Mehmet Mustafa Ş., was involved in efforts to obstruct the investigation.
“Whether You Take It or Not, They’ll Say You Did”
The prosecutor’s official statement details the shocking conversation:
“The judge asked about the investigation (into an organized crime group altering chassis numbers on lorries), referring to it as ‘lawyer Mert’s case.’ He then suggested dropping the charges: ‘Can’t you issue a decision of non-prosecution for this case?’ I explained that the evidence proved the chassis numbers had been altered and that dropping the charges would not be legally or ethically possible. The judge then responded, ‘Who would object if you issued a non-prosecution decision?’ I reiterated that such a decision would be both unlawful and against my conscience. He then suggested we slap lawyer Mert with a price, and even proposed that we discuss the matter over dinner.”
When Prosecutor Abdussamed B. refused, Judge Mehmet Mustafa Ş. allegedly insisted: “We should slap him with a price.” The prosecutor rebuffed the offer, affirming that he would not be involved in any wrongdoing. The judge then ominously remarked, “Whether you take it (money) or not, they’ll say you did.”
Following this conversation, the prosecutor filed an official report with the judicial commission. However, the judge continued his efforts, making further calls to the prosecutor, which went unanswered. He even arrived unannounced at the prosecutor’s office, prompting the prosecutor to secretly record their conversation.
Secretly Recorded Confession
In the nine-minute recording, the judge reportedly expressed regret and attempted to justify his actions:
“I was approached by a very senior government official regarding this matter… That’s why I made this offer to you. I am deeply sorry. I made a mistake. Please forgive me. Have you informed the Chief Prosecutor?”
When the prosecutor confirmed that he had, the judge reacted angrily: “Should we be brothers or should we fight? Lawyer Mert will attack you as well.” He then made a desperate plea: “I am really sorry, please do me a favor and clean this up. I have seven people depending on me. Mert is politically influential. If necessary, he will find three witnesses and go to the Chief Prosecutor, claiming that you were the one who solicited a bribe.”
The prosecutor submitted the recording to the Chief Prosecutor and the judicial commission, which forwarded it to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors for further investigation.
Second Incident: Same Judge’s Interference in a Police Theft Case
The prosecutor’s bribery allegations opened the floodgates to more accusations against Judge Mehmet Mustafa Ş. Another prosecutor, Ayşegül G., came forward with claims of judicial misconduct involving a separate criminal case.
The case was against a narcotics police officer who was accused of stealing 1,000 Turkish lira and a bottle of perfume from a suspect’s car during a stop-and-search operation in Hatay’s Defne district. The police officer was arrested and dismissed from his position, pending trial.
Manipulating the Verdict
The case was assigned to Hatay 5th Criminal Court, where Judge Mehmet Mustafa Ş. was presiding. The defendant was represented by none other than lawyer Mert M., the same lawyer implicated in the chassis number case. The officer was released from pre-trial detention, but to be reinstated in the police force, he needed an acquittal stating that no crime had occurred.
The prosecutor of the trial, Ayşegül G., later revealed that Judge Mehmet Mustafa Ş. allegedly visited her office and pressured her to issue a recommendation for acquittal: “This case involves some very influential people. The officer is innocent, and he should be acquitted.”
Feeling pressured, the prosecutor ultimately recommended an acquittal on the grounds of insufficient evidence. However, the judge went a step further, ruling that the officer was completely innocent and had not committed any crime—an acquittal that would allow him to return to the police force.
Revelations and Backlash
Prosecutor Ayşegül G. later discovered that the trial date had been moved forward by five months and that the officer’s lawyer was the same controversial lawyer, Mert M. Disturbed by these findings, she consulted senior judicial officials, including the Chief Prosecutor and other judges, and filed an official complaint about the incident.
She also referred the case to an appellate court, arguing that the officer’s acquittal was unjust. Her decision reportedly angered Judge Mehmet Mustafa Ş., who allegedly called her and insulted her over the phone.
Ongoing Investigations and Judicial Implications
Investigations into Judge Mehmet Mustafa Ş. have uncovered financial irregularities, with reports alleging that his assets and bank transactions far exceeded his official salary. The Hatay judicial commission has confirmed that telephone records show frequent calls between the judge and lawyer Mert.
In its decision ordering a trial into the allegations, the court stated:
“Judge Mehmet Mustafa Ş. acted as an intermediary in lawyer Mert’s bribery attempt, offering a financial incentive to the prosecutor in exchange for a favorable decision in the case. Evidence supports that he engaged in the alleged offense.”
The revelations have fueled growing concerns over corruption within Turkey’s judiciary, highlighting systemic corruption and political interference in legal proceedings.
Context and Broader Implications
Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Index (published in Feb 2025) has revealed that since 2012, 148 out of 180 countries have remained stagnant or worsened in corruption levels. Turkey is among the significant decliners. In 2024 Index, Turkey ranked 107th out of 180 countries, while it ranked 53rd in 2013.
- 2013 Score & Rank: 50, 53rd
- 2024 Score & Rank: 34, 107th
These allegations reflect a disturbing pattern of behavior that is reportedly not isolated within the Turkish judiciary. This case underscores broader concerns about judicial integrity and accountability in Turkey, where cases of corruption, influence peddling, and misuse of official position for personal gain have been noted with increasing frequency. This pervasive corruption undermines public trust in the legal system and calls for comprehensive reforms to restore integrity and public confidence in the judiciary.
According to the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group, the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), Turkey’s level of compliance remains “globally unsatisfactory.” GRECO’s latest report finds that out of 22 recommendations, Turkey has fully implemented only three, partially addressed nine, and left ten completely unaddressed. In the judicial sphere, the report stresses the urgent need to reinforce the independence of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors and introduce stricter ethical standards for judiciary candidates. Furthermore, the report highlights insufficient measures to prevent judicial corruption, urging significant reforms to enhance transparency and accountability.
Categories: Turkey Human Rights Blog