Politics · Turkey · 1 day ago
Audit says Istanbul municipality overpaid for desserts
Türkiye’s Court of Accounts found Istanbul’s municipality paid far above market prices for desserts under a 2025 contract.
The contract, worth more than TL 94 million, was awarded through a negotiated procurement process.
Cold baklava cost TL 1,200 per unit, compared with TL 370 earlier in 2025 and TL 506 later that year.
Walnut kadayıf also cost more: TL 572 per unit, against prices of TL 300 earlier and TL 370 later.
The audit said the cost estimate did not reflect market conditions because it relied on company quotes and left out prices from earlier contracts.
It also found that the contractor used a subcontractor despite a contractual ban, and said the contractor lacked production facilities and sufficient technical capacity.
The findings raise concerns about how public money was spent and how bidders were assessed; the published account does not say what action will follow.
Türkiye’s Court of Accounts found that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality paid substantially higher prices for some desserts through a negotiated procurement.
The 2025 inspection report said the municipality did not set a realistic estimated cost for a contract worth more than TL 94 million.
Cold baklava cost TL 1,200 per unit in the negotiated procedure, compared with TL 370 in January and February and TL 506 from May to December.
The report also found that the work was carried out by a subcontractor despite a contractual ban on subcontracting.
- Who
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Türkiye’s Court of Accounts.
- What
- An audit found possible procurement irregularities, including higher prices for dessert purchases and prohibited subcontracting.
- When
- The inspection report covered 2025 and was recently made public. The article was published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Istanbul, Türkiye.
- Why
- The report said the municipality’s estimated cost did not reflect market conditions and that the contractor lacked production facilities and sufficient technical capacity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Walnut kadayıf was procured at TL 300 per unit and cold baklava at TL 370 per unit.
The negotiated procurement covered dessert purchases at higher prices, including walnut kadayıf at TL 572 and cold baklava at TL 1,200 per unit.
Walnut kadayıf was procured at TL 370 per unit and cold baklava at TL 506 per unit.
The 2025 inspection report was made public.
- Contract value
- More than TL 94 million ($1.87 million)
- Walnut kadayıf
- TL 572 per unit in the negotiated procedure
- Cold baklava
- TL 1,200 per unit in the negotiated procedure
- Contractor's registered location
- Muş, eastern Türkiye
- Contractor's insured employees
- One during the contract period
What people are saying
Rather than offering competitive prices reflecting actual market conditions, companies submitted bids close to or below the estimated cost but above prevailing market rates.
This constitutes a clear violation of the contractual provisions and indicates that the technical qualifications and capacities of the bidders invited during the negotiated procurement process were not properly assessed.