Police detain 10 AFAD employees in Van over bribery allegations

The homes of several AFAD employees were searched in an operation conducted by the Van Police Department early on Monday. Police took five people into custody on suspicion of bribery and forgery. They later raided AFAD's office along the Van-Erciş highway and seized several documents and computers.

Last year, the eastern province of Van was hit by two powerful earthquakes, and TL 691 million in aid has been sent to earthquake survivors through AFAD. The investigation reportedly concerns allegations that AFAD staff had forged documents by altering risk analysis reports of quake-hit buildings in exchange for payment from landlords.

Following the quake, the government announced that all high-risk buildings were to be demolished, with the result that some property owners allegedly offered money to AFAD workers to declare their buildings low risk.

The Van quakes killed more than 600 people and left thousands homeless. In the wake of the disastrous earthquakes the Turkish government and NGOs as well as numerous countries around the world reached out in support of survivors. According to AFAD, 23,291 out of the total 27,598 housing units ordered have reached the area.