Breaking News... First session of the IMM trial concludes: İmamoğlu's request for recusal of the judge rejected!

The first hearing of the case, opened in accordance with the approximately 3,900-page indictment prepared as part of the corruption investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on March 19, 2025, will be held today in Silivri.

A total of 402 defendants, 106 of whom are in custody, including CHP's imprisoned presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, will be tried.

The trial will be conducted by the 1st Panel of the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court in the courtrooms located at the Marmara Open Penal Execution Institution complex in Silivri. 

CHIEF PROSECUTOR DUMAN ALSO ARRIVED IN SILIVRI

Before the hearing, it was observed that Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor Barış Duman was also in Silivri.

İMAMOĞLU'S FAMILY IN SILIVRI FOR THE HEARING

Ekrem İmamoğlu's wife, Dilek İmamoğlu, and his son, Selim İmamoğlu, also arrived in Silivri to follow the hearing.

Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu was also among those present at the prison complex before the hearing.

DİLEK İMAMOĞLU'S REQUEST FOR LIVE BROADCAST

Dilek İmamoğlu arrived at the area where members of the press were located before the hearing and made a brief statement.

Dilek İmamoğlu stated that they had previously expressed their request for the hearing to be broadcast live, but that this request had not been met. Noting that she last saw Ekrem İmamoğlu last week, Dilek İmamoğlu stated that her husband's morale was high and that he was ready for the hearing.

COURTROOM ENTRY BEGAN AT 09:30

As of 09:30, defendants not in custody, lawyers, and party-affiliated spectators began to be admitted to the courtroom.

PRESS QUOTA FILLED QUICKLY

The 30-person section reserved for members of the press in the courtroom was completely filled.

Journalists who could not find a seat in the room are following the hearing from two separate rooms reserved for the press. It was observed that Denizli Mayor Lal Denizli and Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) President Erinç Sağkan were also present in the courtroom.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL IS ALSO IN SILIVRI FOR THE HEARING

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel arrived in Silivri to observe the hearing. Özel made a brief statement to members of the press upon entering the prison complex.

ÖZEL: "THIS TRIAL IS A CONSPIRACY CASE"

In his statement, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said, "By God, they were saying 'they won't be able to show their faces in public within a month,' yet we have come from 5 cities in the last 3 days. They were saying 'they won't be able to look each other in the face.' Those who have become unable to look each other in the face are standing before us. We are here with our heads held high, our foreheads clear, and together with our friends... This trial is a conspiracy case. It is a coup attempt by Tayyip Erdoğan against the president and the government that will succeed him. It has crashed into the conscience of the nation. It has been turned back by the nation's conscience. Now, we have come to follow the trial to complete the formal requirements of the coup process."

WHO IS IN THE COURTROOM?

Numerous politicians and well-known public figures were present in the courtroom where the hearing is being held.

Mahmut Tanal, Mustafa Sarıgül, Burhanettin Bulut, Ali Mahir Başarır, Suat Özçağdaş, Turan Taşkın Özer, Fethi Açıkel, Ali Gökçek, Sibel Suiçmez, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Umut Akdoğan, Bahadır Erdem, Utku Çakırözer, Tolga Sağ, Engin Altay, Seyit Torun, Tahsin Ocaklı, Ahmet Özer, Ercüment Çervatoğlu, Kemal Çebi, Sera Kadıgil, and Ahmet Şık were among those present in the courtroom.

DEFENDANTS IN CUSTODY BROUGHT INTO THE COURTROOM WITH APPLAUSE

As of 10:25, the detained defendants began to be brought into the courtroom in groups. The applause from the spectators during their entry was notable.

It was observed that the spectators gave intense applause in support of each defendant as they entered the courtroom.

The applause grew even louder when the detained Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu entered the room. İmamoğlu shook hands with the other detained defendants who had been brought into the room before him and took his seat.

COURT PANEL ARRIVED IN THE COURTROOM AT 11:00

During this time, one of the spectators shouted, "We are proud of you, the guardians of Istanbul and the Republic."

The court panel arrived in the courtroom at 11:00. The panel provided a brief briefing regarding the conduct of the hearing.

The presiding judge stated that the trial would begin with the detained defendants, followed by the testimony of the non-detained defendants. He also reiterated that the hearings would be held between Monday and Thursday.

The presiding judge also reminded that no audio or video recordings should be made during the hearing. He stated that if such recordings were shared, the trial could continue without spectators.

It was observed that the defendants who applied to benefit from effective remorse and whose detention continues were seated at the very back of the detention section. It was noted that gendarmerie teams also took additional security measures in this section.

İMAMOĞLU'S REQUEST TO GREET OTHERS WAS NOT ACCEPTED

It was stated that the final defense in the hearing would be made by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu's lawyer, Hasan Fehmi Demir, requested that his client be allowed to greet his friends.

The presiding judge responded to this request by saying, "This is not his area. Such a thing does not happen in other trials." he replied.

DISPUTE BETWEEN THE PRESIDING JUDGE AND İMAMOĞLU

Ekrem İmamoğluWhen he wanted to take the floor, the presiding judge did not allow it and ordered his microphone to be turned off.

The presiding judge said, "Mr. Ekrem, you cannot just continue as you please. If you continue like this, I will remove you from the hearing." Upon this, İmamoğlu used the expressions, "I find it wrong for you to start the trial in this manner."

The presiding judge's use of the informal "you" during the speech caused tension in the courtroom. The spectators responded with "you" (formal) slogans were heard being chanted.

Following the dispute, the presiding judge issued an interim ruling:

"It is observed that defendant Ekrem İmamoğlu approached the podium despite not being given the floor, and continued to speak despite being warned, and did not comply with the instruction to return to his seat. He continues to engage in behavior that disrupts the order of the hearing. It was requested that he be removed from the courtroom should he repeat similar behavior. The decision was made unanimously."

PRESIDING JUDGE DECIDES TO CLEAR THE COURTROOM

The court panel received procedural requests. During this time, the lawyer for Melih Geçek took the floor and asked, "Who provided the list of statements, which was not given to the lawyers, to Yeni Şafak?"

Voices from the parliamentary benches shouted, "Answer the question," upon which the presiding judge decided to clear the courtroom and left the hearing, stating, "I will not continue the trial under these conditions."

Members of Parliament objected. Spectators began to be removed from the courtroom. An officer told the gendarmerie, "Commander, let's clear the spectator section." 

İMAMOĞLU TO THE JUDGE: YOU CANNOT LEAVE BY RUNNING AWAY!

The gendarmerie commander approached the section where the spectators were seated and is speaking with the deputies. The court panel has left the courtroom.

As the panel was leaving, İmamoğlu turned toward the court and "You did not come here to conduct a trial. You cannot leave by running away from here" he shouted.

"MANDATORY" ADJOURNMENT OF THE HEARING

A short break was taken in the hearing. The detained defendants began to be removed from the courtroom.

Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) President Erinç Sağkan and CHP member Ali Mahir Başarır are attempting to speak with the presiding judge during the break.

The hearing has been adjourned until 13:30. The hearing will continue with spectators present.

EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVES IN SILIVRI

The IMM trial was attended by representatives from the consulates of the Netherlands, Sweden, the USA, and Belgium. The ambassadors of France and Germany are also in Silivri. The United Kingdom and Norway sent representatives from their embassies in Ankara.

DETAINEES RETURNING TO THE COURTROOM

The hearing, which was scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM, is starting with a half-hour delay.

CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik warned the spectators, "Let us show maximum sensitivity regarding applause and filming during the court proceedings" he said.

İMAMOĞLU HAS RETURNED TO THE COURTROOM

Ekrem İmamoğlu was brought into the courtroom to loud applause. He greeted the spectators and took his seat. In his hand, İmamoğlu held the book "Entrusted to the Nation" .

Aziz İhsan AKTAŞ IS ALSO IN THE COURTROOM

Aziz İhsan Aktaş, a defendant in the case who is not in custody, also arrived at the courtroom. The gendarmerie accompanied Aziz İhsan Aktaş as he entered the room. Aktaş sat behind the defendants who are in custody.

The court panel took their places, and the hearing began.

"LEAVE YOUR OFFICIAL VEHICLES, COME AS CIVILIANS"

According to reports by Cumhuriyet, After the break, the trial resumed with procedural requests from Hasan Fehmi Demir, the lawyer for Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mehmet Pehlivan. 

Noting that the trial began under heavy security measures, Demir said, "If you do not believe us, leave your official vehicles for once, enter as civilians, and use the main entrance instead of your private entrances. You will understand what we mean." he said.

Referring to the Ergenekon and Balyoz trials, Demir stated, "Trials began here in 2008. Today, they are pursuing the construction of even larger courtrooms without learning lessons from history." he remarked. 

"THESE TRIALS BEGAN WITH ERGENEKON"

Lawyer Demir stated, "Your panel shares a large part of the responsibility for the creation of this environment, but the political power should also be given its due. These trials began with Ergenekon. Then, in Balyoz, they moved to a larger courtroom. The history of this building consists of this. Those who were deceived back then are the ones building these prisons and concentration camps today."

Demir also emphasized İmamoğlu's political background. He noted that İmamoğlu was elected in the 2024 local elections with 4 million 432 thousand votes.

MOTION FOR RECUSAL OF THE JUDGE FROM İMAMOĞLU'S LAWYERS

İmamoğlu's lawyers, Hasan Fehmi Demir and Fikret İlkiz, filed a motion for the recusal of the judge.

Fikret İlkiz stated the following:

"You did not provide us with a list of the order of defendants at the hearing. You said, 'We hung it on the door, go take a picture of it.' I do not think you would say that to the prosecution. We do not trust you regarding proportionality. We are not people who cannot be consulted. We are the defense; we are lawyers. Journalists decide how many journalists will be admitted to the courtroom. You want none of the defendants' faces to be seen. This is not a trial."

İlkiz, "We are requesting your recusal because you are not adhering to the principles" concluded his remarks with these statements.

Following İmamoğlu's lawyers, the lawyers for the detained Fatih Keleş and Buğra Gökce also took the floor in turn to file motions for the recusal of the judge.

"YOU EVALUATED JUDICIAL CONTROL PERSONALLY"

Hüseyin Ersöz, the lawyer for Ramazan Gülten and Aykut Erdoğdu, also stated that they joined the motion for the recusal of the judge.

Stating, "This trial must be handled not only from the moment your panel took it up, but as a series of unlawful acts from the very beginning of the investigation," Ersöz recalled the journalists detained in the IMM investigation and said, "You personally evaluated and lifted the judicial control request for one of the 6 journalists. Then we applied for journalist Yavuz Oğhan, and his was lifted only 1 month later." 

IDENTITY CHECKS STILL COULD NOT BE COMPLETED

It has been 5 hours since the hearing began, yet the routine identity verification process has still not been completed, and the summary of the indictment has not been read.

The lawyers' motions for the recusal of the judge are ongoing.

The lawyers' motions for the recusal of the judge are ongoing.

DEBATE OVER "HEARING DID NOT COMMENCE ACCORDING TO PROCEDURE" 

The debate in the courtroom over whether "the hearing did not commence according to procedure" is still continuing. 

Defense attorneys argue that the process has not followed the standard, routine procedure for opening a hearing. 

A lawyer for the complainant just took the floor, but defense attorneys stated that this was contrary to procedure. 

The lawyers are demanding that the Presiding Judge respond to the motion for recusal and initiate the hearing "in accordance with procedure."

"JUST AS WE ADDRESS YOU FORMALLY..."

A defense attorney took the floor and said, "In the first session, you addressed Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu informally using 'sen' (the singular 'you'). We objected from these benches, but I do not know how it was heard. With the logic that things continue as they begin, just as we address you formally, we would like you to address us in the same manner, within the bounds of respect."

DISPUTE ERUPTS AGAIN IN THE COURTROOM, RECUSAL REQUEST REJECTED

İmamoğlu approached the podium and had a dispute with the judge. In its interim opinion, the prosecution requested that the motions for the recusal of the judge and for the separation of the case be rejected.

FIRST DAY OF THE HEARING CONCLUDES

The presiding judge rejected the defense attorneys' motions for recusal and separation of the case, claiming they were intended to "prolong the hearing." 

The first day of the hearing has been completed. 

The hearing will continue tomorrow at 10:00 AM with identity verification.

***

PROTEST BAN IN THE SILIVRI AREA

Prior to the trial, security measures were implemented by the Silivri District Governorship for the prison complex and its surroundings. By the decision of the District Governorship, certain activities in and around the prison campus in Silivri have been prohibited between March 1 and March 31, 2026.

Meetings and protest marches will not be permitted within a one-kilometer radius from the wire fence boundary of the prison complex. Making press statements, giving interviews, recording footage with cameras or mobile phones, displaying banners and signs, chanting slogans, setting up tents, and opening stands in the same area have also been included in the scope of the ban.

Furthermore, it was announced that individuals wearing clothing containing symbols will not be allowed to enter the hearing area.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FIRST SESSION?

On the first day of the trial, it is expected that the identities of the defendants will be verified and a summary of the indictment will be read. Following these procedures, the court will proceed to take the defendants' testimonies.

For the hearings scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM, entry passes will be issued by officials to defendants, witnesses, complainants, lawyers, members of the press, and spectators.

Defendants, lawyers, and complainants will be admitted to the courtroom first. Subsequently, members of the press and spectators will be allowed to enter.

CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO INSTITUTIONS

The court panel sent official correspondence on March 4 to the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Marmara Open Penal Execution Institution, the Silivri District Police Department, and the Silivri District Gendarmerie Command to ensure preparations for the hearing were completed.

10 SEPARATE WAVES OF DETENTIONS IN THE INVESTIGATION

Operations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality continued until the end of the summer. During this process, a total of 10 separate waves of detentions were carried out.

While numerous individuals were detained as part of the operations, some suspects were arrested. It was noted that some of the accusations in the investigation file were based on statements from secret witnesses using phrases such as "I heard," "I learned," and "I received information."

The fact that a significant portion of the accusations relies on the statements of secret witnesses and other witnesses has sparked public criticism. It was also learned that some individuals detained during the operations later applied to the court to benefit from effective remorse provisions.

ACCUSATIONS DIRECTED AT İMAMOĞLU

In the indictment, Ekrem İmamoğlu is identified as the "founder and leader of the organization." A prison sentence ranging from 828 years and 2 months to 2,352 years is being sought for İmamoğlu.

The charges brought against İmamoğlu are listed as follows:

Establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes

Bribery (12 counts)

Money laundering (7 counts)

Fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations (7 counts)

Recording personal data (2 counts)

Unlawful seizure and dissemination of personal data (2 counts)

Concealing evidence of a crime (2 counts)

Obstruction of communication

Damaging public property

Taking bribes (47 counts)

Publicly disseminating misleading information

Extortion (9 counts)

Rigging tenders (70 counts)

Intentional pollution of the environment

Violation of the Tax Procedure Law

Violation of the Forestry Law

Violation of the Mining Law

THE "OCTOPUS" EMPHASIS IN THE INDICTMENT

In the indictment, the phrase that the organization's activities spread to different parts of Istanbul "like the arms of an octopus" was included in four separate places.

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan first used the "octopus arms" analogy regarding the operations against Ekrem İmamoğlu on May 25, 2025. It was noted that the same expression also appeared in the indictment.

The Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court did not grant release for the 106 detained defendants during the detention reviews.

NEW COURTROOM NOT READY

Due to the high number of defendants, construction of a new courtroom has begun at the Marmara Closed Prison complex in Silivri. It is stated that the cost of the hall, which is being built in a section of the prison parking lot, will reach approximately 1 billion Turkish Lira.

Because the construction is not yet complete, the initial hearings will be held in existing courtrooms. In a letter dated March 2, the court announced that the trial would be conducted in Courtroom No. 1 at the Marmara Open Penal Institution complex.

IF THE COURTROOM IS INSUFFICIENT, SEGBIS WILL BE ACTIVATED

It was stated that if the capacity of Courtroom No. 1 in Silivri, where the hearing will take place, proves insufficient, other courtrooms in the complex may also be used. In such a case, it will be possible to follow the hearings from different rooms via the SEGBIS (Audio and Video Information System).

FIRST HEARING CALENDAR MAY LAST UNTIL MAY

According to information obtained prior to the hearing, the trial calendar for the first phase is expected to be completed by the end of May. While the plan is to hear the 106 detained defendants in the first stage, the trial is expected to continue later in the new courtroom currently under construction.

It has been stated that Ekrem İmamoğlu, one of the figures whose defense is most anticipated, is preparing a politically-themed defense and that his testimony could take longer than one day.

CARD-ACCESS ENTRY TO THE COURTROOM

The court announced that entry into the courtroom will be managed via a card-based system. Separate entry cards will be prepared for defendants, lawyers, witnesses, members of the press, and officials.

It was stated that detained and non-detained defendants, along with their lawyers, will be given priority for entry into the courtroom.

Accreditation and security assessment requirements were introduced for members of the press. Accordingly, a maximum of 5 foreign journalists will be admitted to the courtroom. It was reported that a total of 20 journalists from national media organizations will be accepted, with only one person allowed per media group.

In the event that there is no space left in the courtroom, a separate area will be created where other press representatives can watch the hearing via a screen.

QUOTA FOR LAWYERS AND RELATIVES

The court announced that each defendant may be represented by a maximum of three lawyers. It was stated that if the area allocated for lawyers proves insufficient, a portion of the section reserved for spectators may be allocated to the defense counsel.

It was stated that after the defendants, lawyers, press members, and officials are admitted to the courtroom, priority will be given to the first-degree relatives of the defendants, subject to physical capacity.

RECORDING BAN AT THE HEARING

Citing Article 183 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 286 of the Turkish Penal Code, it was announced that the use of audio and video recording devices during the hearing is prohibited. It was stated that legal action would be taken against those who do not comply with this rule.

It was noted that doctors and medical personnel would be kept on standby in the courtroom for potential health issues during the hearing, and that detained defendants would be brought to the courtroom before the start time. It was stated that security measures would be provided by the relevant law enforcement units.

The court's instruction letter was sent to the relevant institutions, primarily the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Silivri District Police Department, and the Silivri District Gendarmerie Command.

FINAL INSTRUCTION FOR HEARING ORDER

The Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court issued another memorandum regarding the order of the trial prior to the hearing.

According to the court's letter, those arriving at the prison complex will be admitted to the courtroom in the following order: detained defendants, non-detained defendants, defense attorneys, complainants, attorneys for complainants, relatives of detained defendants, members of the press, and representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations.

“RECUSAL OF JUDGE” REQUEST MAY BE RAISED AT THE HEARING

It is also stated that some lawyers may file a request for the “recusal of the judge” during the initial phase of the hearing. There are plans to adjourn the hearings during the trial process due to the approaching holiday.

Furthermore, it was announced that a detention review will be conducted on the 6th of every month. Within this framework, three separate detention evaluations are planned during the process, which is expected to continue until May. There is also a possibility that the court may issue a release decision during these stages.

Throughout the month of Ramadan, the hearings are planned to be held between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

News Source: 12punto