Medicana executives testify $8 million bribe paid for Şişli hospital permits

September 29, 2026 at 08:24 PM2 min

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Medicana Hospitals Group owner Hüseyin Bozkurt and company official Fatih Mehmet Bozkurt testified in the 25th hearing of the İmamoğlu criminal organization case that they were forced to pay $8 million to obtain construction permits for a hospital in Şişli. Fatih Mehmet Bozkurt said $4 million was deposited into the municipal account on June 5, 2024, and the remaining $4 million was handed in cash at an office in Nurol Tower. He added that the project was approved the same day the money was delivered.

Key Facts

Medicana executives testified they paid $8 million to obtain construction permits for a hospital in Şişli.
Fatih Mehmet Bozkurt said $4 million was deposited into the municipal account on June 5, 2024, and $4 million was handed in cash at Nurol Tower.
The project was approved the same day the cash payment was delivered, according to Fatih Mehmet Bozkurt.
The executives said they were directed to intermediary Adem Altuntaş by Şişli Deputy Mayor İlker Bey.
Hüseyin Bozkurt said he met with Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan and asked for help, stating the hospital had hired 1,000 people, mostly professors and associate professors.

Bribery Scheme

Fatih Mehmet Bozkurt testified that Şişli Deputy Mayor İlker Bey directed them to Adem Altuntaş, a person with no official role. He said they met with Altuntaş at various locations in Istanbul, including Üsküdar and Beylerbeyi, where demands were made for a cultural building and garbage trucks. The executives rejected those demands as excessive, after which they sought a meeting with Ekrem İmamoğlu. Fatih Mehmet Bozkurt described the İmamoğlu meeting as a 10-minute courtesy call in which İmamoğlu said authority rested with Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan. After the meetings with İmamoğlu and Şahan, Altuntaş returned with new demands: $4 million as a donation to the municipal account and $4 million in cash.

Payment and Permit Approval

Fatih Mehmet Bozkurt said $4 million was deposited into the municipal account on June 5, 2024. The remaining $4 million was handed in cash at Adem Altuntaş's office in Nurol Tower. When the prosecutor asked whether the permit was approved immediately after the payment, Bozkurt replied, "We got the project approved the same day." Hüseyin Bozkurt testified that he told Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan the hospital had been unable to open for about a year and had hired 1,000 people, mostly professors and associate professors.