Breaking News... Hearing in IMM case adjourned until tomorrow: Judge ordered the courtroom cleared, İmamoğlu said 'I am not leaving'

The trial of 414 defendants, including 77 who are currently detained, continues in the case against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), which also involves the suspended IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. As the hearings enter their ninth week, the case is currently in its 31st session.

12:01 | İMAMOĞLU: "THEY WANT TO MANAGE PERCEPTION"

Defendants and their lawyers alleged that journalist Ferhat Murat, who is close to the government, shook his head at the defendants while waiting in the hallway, saying "Exactly, exactly," and also pointed his finger at them. 

The lawyers drafted and signed a report regarding the incident.

As İmamoğlu was leaving the courtroom, he addressed the audience with the following remarks:

"Unfortunately, the judicial panel does not want to conduct a trial. What they did today is a refusal to conduct a trial, because a mindset that allows pro-government media into a place where no one else can enter, and then lets them point fingers at our colleague, does not want to conduct a trial; it is continuing to manage perception. We will continue our struggle."

11:50 | HEARING ADJOURNED

The 31st session of the IMM case was adjourned following tension between the lawyers and the court panel. 

While the wait continued in the courtroom, the bailiff, speaking into the microphone on behalf of the court panel, announced, "There will be no hearing today. It will continue tomorrow."

Lawyers reacted to the situation. The courtroom is being cleared.

LAWYERS DRAFTED A RECORD

Meanwhile, the lawyers drafted a record regarding the events that took place.

11:30 | PRO-GOVERNMENT JOURNALIST IN THE JUDGE-PROSECUTOR CORRIDOR!

While the wait continued in the courtroom, lawyers stated that Ferhat Murat, one of the journalists close to the government, was seen in the judicial staff section located in the back corridor, which is used by prosecutors and judges.

As lawyers and journalists reacted to the situation, one lawyer shouted, "We cannot go there, journalists cannot go there either, how is he there?" 

Lawyer Yiğit Akalın said, "This person can go to the judge's side, but I cannot; what is this person's privilege? How did Ferhat Murat get in?"

İmamoğlu shouted, "That man is posting from over there, spreading fake news. Come here and report the news." 

Aykut Erdoğdu's wife, Tuba Torun, said, "Ferhat Murat, I will file a lawsuit against you for publicly spreading misleading information to the public."

Ferhat Murat is currently in the press room with his security detail. He is arguing with journalists, claiming he did not enter the courtroom.

11:20 | İMAMOĞLU: ARE WE PING-PONG BALLS? WE ARE BEING DRAGGED FROM HERE TO THERE

According to Cumhuriyet, After the recess called before the start of the hearing in the IMM case, while the female detainees left the courtroom, İmamoğlu and the other male detainees remained inside.

Reacting to the judge leaving the courtroom, İmamoğlu said, "Are we ping-pong balls? We are being dragged from here to there. This is not child's play; these are human beings."

The gendarmerie on duty in the courtroom asked the detainees who had not left to vacate the room, but the detainees refused. Raising his voice, İmamoğlu responded, "I am here, take me out by force."

Dilek İmamoğlu, from the spectator benches, said, "We are not leaving; if that's the case, then release the detainees, come and drag us out by the collar."

The gendarmerie is currently demanding that spectators, journalists, and lawyers all leave the courtroom.

11:12 | TENSION ROSE IN THE COURTROOM, SESSION ADJOURNED

According to reports from Halk TV, during the hearing, Fatih Keleş's lawyer, Baran Kaya, reminded the court of the release of the confessor Adem Soytekin and used the term "mise-en-scène" (staged performance) in reference to the court panel. Upon this, the presiding judge turned off the lawyer's microphone and warned, "I will have you removed from the courtroom."

The presiding judge announced that lawyers would not be given the floor. Necati Özkan's lawyer, Kazım Yiğit Akalın, remarked, "Even the Fethullahists of God used to grant us the right to request release every two weeks."

Lawyers objected during the identity verification of the detained Ahmet Güldü, an employee of Murat Gülibrahimoğlu. The presiding judge stated, "I will not give the floor to lawyers, clear the courtroom, I am taking a recess." Ekrem İmamoğlu declared that he would not leave the courtroom, saying, "I am not going down." İmamoğlu added, "Are we ping-pong balls that you keep moving us back and forth? We will not leave the courtroom."

10:53 | HEARING BEGAN

The 32nd session began as the court panel entered the courtroom. Engin Ulusoy, the detained former Head of the Municipal Police Department, whose health condition was reported to have deteriorated, entered the courtroom with the help of his friends. It was observed that he had difficulty walking.

Ulusoy's lawyer took the floor and said, "He has health problems. He has not been taken to the hospital. A person who would be taken to the hospital by 112 if they were outside has still not been taken to the hospital."

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Following the completion of the investigation into Ekrem İmamoğlu, a 3,809-page indictment was prepared on November 11, 2025. In the indictment, a prison sentence ranging from 828 years and 2 months to 2,352 years was requested, citing 142 separate actions.

NINTH WEEK OF THE TRIAL

The first hearing of the case was held on Monday, March 9. Since that date, the defenses of 37 defendants have been heard. While the hearings continue four days a week, no sessions are held on Fridays.

RELEASE DECISION FOR 15 DEFENDANTS

The Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court panel ruled for the release of Emrah Yüksel, İsmet Korkmaz, Mehmet Çağlar Kuru, Ulaş Yılmaz, Yusuf Utku Şahin, Çağlar Türkmen, Adem Soytekin, Seyhan Özcan, Nuri Cem Ceylan, Esma Bayrak, Murat Keleş, Fatih Özçelik, İsmail Akkaya, Harun Cengiz Beğenmez, and Mehmet Kaya.

Following the evacuation orders, Ekrem İmamoğlu stated as he left the courtroom, "Be very strong, a new day will begin on Monday; we are stronger than we were this morning."

News Source: 12punto