For Sinem Dedetaş, the transition from the halls of local government to the confines of a prison cell was as abrupt as it was consequential. As the Üsküdar Belediye Chairman, Dedetaş occupied a position of significant public trust, managing the affairs of a major district. However, that tenure came to a jarring halt on July 31, 2026, when she was taken into custody. The charges leveled against her were severe: prosecutors alleged that she had been involved in forming an organization to commit crimes, bribery, and extortion. For three months, the political landscape of Üsküdar remained in a state of uncertainty as the legal proceedings against its leader unfolded behind closed doors.
The investigation, spearheaded by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, centered on complex financial and legal irregularities. At the heart of the scrutiny were the operations of Kent A.Ş., a municipal entity, and its interactions with various contractors. Investigators looked into the building and housing permits issued under Dedetaş’s watch, probing for evidence of corruption that allegedly totaled 1 billion 78 million 870 thousand 833 Turkish Lira. These figures, representing the massive scale of the contracts in question, became the focal point of a case that sought to determine whether public office had been leveraged for private gain.
The legal fallout was immediate. Following her arrest on July 31, 2026, the administrative consequences followed just one day later, on August 1, 2026. Dedetaş was officially removed from her position as the Üsküdar Belediye Chairman. This move effectively severed her connection to the municipal machinery, leaving the district to navigate the vacuum left by her departure. The removal was not merely a procedural step; it was a clear signal of the gravity with which the state viewed the allegations of collusion and financial misconduct.
The court issued a decision to grant her release from prison, though it was not a return to total freedom.
After three months of detention, the trajectory of the case shifted on October 29, 2026. Coinciding with Republic Day, a date of immense national significance, the legal status of the former chairman underwent a transformation. The court issued a decision to grant her release from prison, though it was not a return to total freedom. Instead, the judiciary opted for a measure of house arrest, a form of judicial control that keeps the accused under strict surveillance while allowing them to leave the confines of a prison facility. The timing of the decision—on a day marked by celebrations of the state—added a layer of public visibility to a case that had been defined by its secrecy.
Throughout the ordeal, Dedetaş’s legal team worked to challenge the necessity of her continued incarceration. Her lawyer, Akın Atalay, served as the primary voice for her defense, navigating the complexities of the corruption charges. Upon the court’s decision to transition her to house arrest, Atalay confirmed the development, providing a brief but definitive statement on the shift in her status. "Müvekkilim Sinem Dedetaş için yaptığımız tahliye başvurusu üzerine kendisinin ev hapsi şeklindeki adli kontrol tedbiriyle cezaevinden tahliyesine karar verilmiştir," Atalay stated, noting that the legal process was far from over.
As of October 29, 2026, Sinem Dedetaş remains under house arrest, a status that serves as a middle ground in the ongoing legal battle. While she is no longer in a prison cell, she remains tethered to the court’s requirements, unable to resume her former duties or move freely. The investigation into the irregularities involving Kent A.Ş. and the associated building permits continues, with the judiciary tasked with untangling the web of financial claims that led to this point. For now, the case remains a stark reminder of the volatility of local politics and the enduring reach of the judicial system when public funds and administrative integrity are called into question.