Prosecutors in Istanbul asked for up to two years in prison for Ali Kılıç, mayor for Istanbul's Maltepe district from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Kılıç and 26 others, including district council members, are accused of abuse of authority for unlawfully licensing businesses.

Kılıç, who took office after an election victory in 2014, and other suspects are accused of contravening regulations in the zoning of places selling alcohol. Prosecutors say that by giving operating licenses to businesses selling alcohol in zoning where sales are prohibited, the municipality officials abused their authority.

The case stems from a 2014 municipal regulation that was implemented based on false data, according to the prosecutors who say Kılıç and others "helped business owners illegally profit" from their exemption from the sales ban. Setting up businesses selling alcohol near schools is prohibited in Turkey, but the suspects are accused of green lighting such businesses in areas with schools, according to the indictment.