İmamoğlu's testimony process completed: He denied the accusations

IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu denied the corruption allegations against him during his testimony, which lasted approximately 4 hours.

Following his detention on the morning of March 19, İmamoğlu gave his statement to the prosecutor today at the Vatan Police Headquarters in the Fatih district. İmamoğlu was detained as part of investigations launched into allegations of terrorism and corruption. In a post on his social media account, İmamoğlu announced that in addition to the two ongoing investigations against him, a third investigation had been launched on the grounds that he had opened daycare centers. It was learned that the 3rd investigation is being conducted by civil inspectors affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin claimed that the daycare centers affiliated with the IMM were illegal. Responding to Tekin by saying, 'If you have the courage, close the daycare centers,' İmamoğlu emphasized that he would not take a step back from opening daycare centers.

Making a statement regarding the 3rd investigation launched against him, İmamoğlu used the following expressions:

''An investigation has been opened against me because I opened daycare centers. I would have liked to give a statement, but I am currently in custody. I would gladly defend the daycare centers we built for the children of this city. We will continue to commit the 'crime' of opening daycare centers. I entrust the daycare centers of our children, who are our future, to our nation.''

CORRUPTION AND TERRORISM ACCUSATIONS

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was taken into custody during a police operation conducted at his home in the early hours of the morning. Two separate investigations are being conducted against İmamoğlu on allegations of corruption and aiding a terrorist organization. A total of 100 people were detained as part of the operation.

In the corruption investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, İmamoğlu was defined as the "leader of a criminal organization." The investigation is based on the "money counting" footage within the CHP. According to witness statements, it is alleged that İmamoğlu and his team demanded money from businessmen, obtained unfair profits, and laundered this money using a "secret safe" method. In addition to İmamoğlu, detention warrants were issued for 99 people on charges such as "being a leader of a criminal organization," "bribery," "qualified fraud," and "rigging a tender."

In another investigation, it was stated that İmamoğlu was targeted on charges of "aiding the PKK/KCK terrorist organization." Within this scope, IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Reform Institute President Mehmet Ali Çalışkan, and Şişli Deputy Mayor Ebru Özdemir were also detained.

SUCCESSIVE STATEMENTS FROM İMAMOĞLU

In a statement he made via social media, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, 'A blow is being dealt to the national will.' İmamoğlu stated, 'A mindset that tries to usurp the will of our nation has piled my dear police officers at the door of my residence. We are facing great tyranny; I entrust myself to my nation. I will continue to fight against that person and the mindset of that person.'

Before İmamoğlu's testimony began, the following was stated in a post on his social media account:

'I trust you. These days will pass, and the beauty of solidarity and struggle will remain. You are very strong together.'

REACTIONS FROM CHP TO THE DETENTIONS

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in a statement on his X account, said, “A force is in motion to prevent the nation from determining the next president. We are facing an attempted coup against our next president.”

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş also reacted to İmamoğlu's detention. Yavaş said, “It should be known that no intervention against the national will shall go unanswered. Our democracy will suffer the greatest harm from these practices carried out through unlawful methods, pressures, and threats. However, we will not remain silent! Let no one forget: Our Mayor Ekrem is not alone!”

61 former CHP deputies reacted to İmamoğlu's detention with a declaration they published. In the declaration, it was claimed that the government launched the operations to cover up its failures.

In the statement, reacting to AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the following was noted:

''We are watching with sadness that some attacks against the opposition, which have occurred after the transition to the one-man regime in our country, which has a democratic tradition of over 100 years, have begun to coincide with the 'methods used by political powers to sideline their opponents,' which are occasionally encountered in underdeveloped countries.''

ONGUN AND GÖKÇE ALSO IN CUSTODY

İmamoğlu’s press advisor Murat Ongun and Istanbul Planning Agency President Buğra Gökçe were also among those detained. Ongun, in a statement on social media, said, “I am being detained. They think that by silencing us, they will prevent us from defending and supporting Ekrem İmamoğlu. I am calling out to our citizens who have accounts on all social media platforms: From this hour on, Ekrem İmamoğlu is entrusted to the Turkish nation. Protect, look after, and support him! They cannot defeat the nation. Everything will be very beautiful.”

It was learned that İmamoğlu’s election campaign director Necati Özkan was also detained. Additionally, it was reported that there were detention warrants for Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan and Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık.

DIPLOMA CANCELLATION DECISION

Istanbul University cancelled the diplomas of 28 people, including İmamoğlu, on the grounds of "non-existence" and "obvious error."

In a statement regarding this decision, İmamoğlu said:

'We have no solution other than the legitimacy that will emerge with the power of the nation. They ask me what you will do from now on; I will continue to run like a lion.'

News Source: 12punto