Breaking News... Investigation launched into comments on effective remorse

A new development has occurred in the corruption investigation being conducted into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB).

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued an official statement regarding allegations that the statements of some suspects who benefited from effective remorse provisions during the investigation process were "obtained under pressure and threats."

Stating that the claims appearing in the public eye and some media outlets in recent days that "statements were obtained through pressure and coercion" are damaging to the investigation, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that such claims do not reflect the truth.

The statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office included the following:

"Within the scope of the investigations numbered 2024/228233, 2024/236201, and 2025/76201 being conducted by our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it has been observed that some suspects, against whom investigations are being carried out for the crimes of 'Rigging Tenders, Bribery, Extortion, Forgery of Official Documents, Establishing, Managing, and Being a Member of a Criminal Organization,' applied personally or through their defense counsel with written petitions to benefit from the effective remorse provisions regulated in Articles 221 and 254 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), that the statements of the suspects were taken in the presence of their lawyers, that the statements given were signed after being read by them and their lawyers, and that research was conducted by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the accuracy and confirmation of the statements given; however, as it has been observed that statements damaging the investigation process, such as that the statements were obtained through pressure, coercion, and threats, have been made on some social media accounts, an ex officio investigation will be launched by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those who are found to have intentional acts in attempting to influence the ongoing investigation in this regard. Respectfully announced to the public."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Mehmet Pehlivan, the lawyer for IBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been detained since March 23, was arrested on charges of 'membership in a criminal organization' following the statements given by Adem Soytekin and Servet Yıldırım within the scope of 'effective remorse' in the IBB investigation. It was alleged that Pehlivan organized the lawyers within the scope of the investigation and exerted pressure on the suspects not to provide statements.

News Source: 12punto