Fatih Keleş, president of the Istanbul municipality’s sports club, has denied recent allegations that appeared in Sabah newspaper alleging he had ordered the killing of businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş. Aktaş is a key witness in ongoing investigations against the opposition-controlled Istanbul mınicipality.

Keleş has been in detention since March as part of a series of arrests targeting municipal officials in Istanbul, amid a wider investigation by prosecutors into alleged corruption and organized crime within the municipality. Following Keleş’s arrest, his brother, son, and nephew were also detained, though Keleş has insisted that none of them have committed any crimes.

In a statement released on August 17, Keleş described the Sabah report as containing “fantastical allegations,” adding: “Neither myself nor my lawyers know the individuals named in the report, nor do we have any animosity toward them.” He said he was only familiar with Aktaş and another businessman, Selahattin Yılmaz, through media coverage.

Keleş also said that lawyers representing another detained........

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