Breaking News... Tension on the 3rd day of the IMM trial in Silivri! Detainees under gendarmerie blockade

The trial opened by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding allegations of corruption within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), in which 402 people are being tried, 107 of whom are in custody, continued on its third day.

17 SEPARATE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST İMAMOĞLU

In the case, numerous defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, will appear before the judge again. While the indictment directs 143 separate acts and 17 different accusations against the defendants, the focus of the file is on certain tenders at the municipality, relationships established with public officials, and various allegations of irregularity.

In the indictment prepared by the prosecution, İmamoğlu is characterized as the "founder and leader of the organization," and it is requested that he be punished for 142 separate crimes. In this context, a prison sentence ranging from 828 years to 2,352 years is being sought for İmamoğlu due to 142 different acts.

Restrictions were also placed on the number of press members to be admitted to the courtroom and the number of defense attorneys for the defendants. It was stated that the trials will be held four days a week until the end of April, and it is planned to take the defenses of the detained defendants during this period. The court is also expected to make an assessment regarding detention statuses by the end of April.

15.28 | MESSAGE FROM İMAMOĞLU: IT WAS POLITICAL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING

Following the conclusion of Sırrı Küçük's defense, his lawyers continue to present the defense. Meanwhile, a new message was shared from the international social media account of the detained presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. The message emphasized that this process has been political from the beginning, but that they remain determined.

İmamoğlu:

"When they cannot stop us at the ballot box, they resort to arrests. After completing his duty to Istanbul, a politician disguised as a prosecutor is rewarded with a ministerial position.

This process has been political from the very beginning. With that political decision, they are targeting not only me but also the will of the people. Our determination, however, is unshakable."

15.07 | "I HAD A CELL SIGNAL AT A GAS STATION..."

Küçük criticized his arrest due to cell tower signals, like many other detainees, as follows:

"I was asked about the names of two businesses. One is a hotel in Esenyurt, and the other is a gas station. I have been to that hotel in Esenyurt many times. I have gone there for our party's programs, and I have gone there for the wedding of someone I know. I took our Honorable Deputy there. Then I park the car and take a photo of our Deputy.

I am a driver who works with the sweat of my brow. After all, the man pays me a salary, so I take him wherever he wants to go. Our Honorable Deputy has never discussed money with anyone in my presence, nor has he assigned me any task related to this.

I had a cell signal at the gas station because I bought coffee, I bought tea, I used the restroom. It is in the natural flow of life for me to have a signal there. I am accused of mediating a bribe. There are defendants here, lawyers here, the delegation is here.

Now, can it be said that thousands of citizens I counted here are mediating bribes because they have a cell signal? I was also detained because I had a signal at a gas station. Ömer Güngör gave his statement 12 days after I was arrested. His statement is full of contradictions from start to finish. Apparently, he called me and said, 'I will give you 5 Million TL.'

And I met him at that gas station, in the middle of thousands of cameras, and took the 5 Million TL. Am I stupid, excuse me? Then this person says he doesn't know me. He makes the slander and reunites with his child and wife, while I have been separated for days.

My conscience is clear because I was able to express myself today."

14.54 | "I LOST 16 KILOS IN PRISON! THEY SLIT A CONVICT'S THROAT IN THE WARD"

Sırrı Küçük continues his statement:

"My name was mentioned within the scope of the 5th wave operation against the IMM. For three days, I didn't know what I was accused of; I was greatly astonished when I saw the newspaper. For days, without knowing what we were accused of, we were put in the position of criminals because of the footage taken. My wife said, 'I can't turn on the television.' My daughter comes to visit; I kiss her, I smell her, I play with her, but after that 45-minute visit ends, my hell begins again. May God not let anyone experience a person hugging their child for a limited time. It's a pity for me, you are also a father," he said, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"My wife is receiving psychological support. My daughter started school, but I couldn't witness it, nor could I see her get her report card; she did it all without a father. If you gave me another life, I couldn't compensate for these. My daughter's teacher says she cries saying, 'I miss my father so much'; she is receiving pedagogical support. We have experienced these pains, but I hope no one is tested with their child.

During my time in prison, my aunt passed away, my childhood friend passed away; I couldn't attend their funerals. I cried for days. I witnessed many fights in the ward where I stayed; there were people who had water glasses broken on their heads and received six stitches. I have no fights or criminal records outside, but I am staying in the same ward as convicts. Another convict slit the throat of another convict 20 days before his release.

I was 74 kilos when I entered prison, now I am 58 and a half kilos. For days, I couldn't take a shower out of fear. At the core of the accusation, I was asked about two businesses by law enforcement and the prosecutor's office; I was asked whether I had been to those businesses."

14.45 | SIRRI KÜÇÜK: I HAD TO LIE TO MY 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER

Sırrı Küçük began his defense by stating that he did not accept the accusation against him. Küçük stated that he did not tell his 4-year-old daughter that he was arrested, but told her that he was on duty in Silivri:

"Action 22 did not take place, I do not accept the accusation against me. Together with my lawyer friend, we determined that Ömer Güngör gave his statement on June 12, 2025; however, my name is not mentioned in either the statement or the information note before this date. Despite this, why did 3-4 police officers detain me on May 31, 2025? Why did I stay in Silivri prison for 165 days? Why did I have to lie to my four-year-old daughter; I had to say that Silivri Prison was a police academy, and I had to cry at every visit. While Ömer Güngör spends plenty of time with his family, I have been longing for my family. We became criminals because we waved here; I can see my daughter once a month, for only 45 minutes. I have been detained for 285 days. (His voice trembled.) Masal Su, I never lied to my daughter until May 31. When the police knocked on the door in the morning, we asked them to detain me without scaring my child. I gave the password before they even asked; they had even written it wrong, I corrected it. They searched. I went to my daughter's room, kissed her on the forehead, smelled her; I hugged my wife, she was crying, and I was overcome with tears. My daughter asked, 'Where are you going?'; I said, 'I'm going to work with the guys, I'll be back,' and for the first time in my life, I lied. I am here because of a crime I did not commit, and I have been paying the price for this for 285 days. Citizens ask each other, 'Why were you taken?', no one knows."

14.33 | SIRRI KÜÇÜK WILL PRESENT HIS DEFENSE

The detained defendants were greeted with the words "We love you" as they were brought into the hall. The hearing began with the slogan "President İmamoğlu." Sırrı Küçük, the driver of CHP Deputy Chairman Özgür Karabat, who came to the podium to present his defense, showed his daughter's photo to the courtroom.

14.26 | DETAINEES ARE BEING BROUGHT INTO THE HALL

After the break given to the hearing, the detainees are being brought into the hall.

EKREM İMAMOĞLU CRITICIZED THE PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA VERY HARSHLY

Presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was taken out of the hall during the break, turned to the press members and said: "I'm glad you exist. If it weren't for you, our voices wouldn't be heard. Shame on the press that has insulted us every day for a year and hasn't been able to write a word here for three days."

13.01 | THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED

The court delegation adjourned the hearing until 14.00.

11.43 | BULUT AYDÖNER REQUESTED HIS ACQUITTAL

Bulut Aydöner finished his defense and requested his acquittal from the court.

DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE COURT PRESIDENT AND AYDÖNER

After Aydöner's statements regarding Serbülent Danış, the Court President entered into a dialogue with Aydöner:

Court President: Did you discuss issues such as price and the like verbally?

Aydöner: Yes. There is no irregularity. We did it in accordance with what the title deed and the law deem appropriate.

Court President: There are two promissory notes in this file.

Aydöner: I saw the screenshots. There are signatures of 5 land registry officers on the official document. If there was a problem with the sale, the officer would have said so. He also declares that he received the money. No other promissory note was issued.

Court President: What kind of hostility was there between you that he made such a statement?

Aydöner: I see this as a statement aimed at saving himself. First, he says he doesn't know Fatih Keleş, and 15-20 days later, he creates a scenario and says he didn't meet him. He has no hostility towards me, and we are not acquainted. It is a statement aimed at saving himself.

11.30 | BULUT AYDÖNER EXPLAINED THE PROCESS LEADING TO HIS ARREST

Bulut Aydöner explained the process leading to his arrest: "There is only one truth regarding his allegations about me. One is that he doesn't know me, and the details he stated about my other company and title. Serbülent Danış had me arrested with false statements. He says he didn't remember me in his first statement, and after my brother was arrested, he says he remembered me in his second statement."

IMM DETAINEE IN THE MURDER WARD!

In his defense, Aydöner said that he had changed wards 3 times and is currently staying in the murder ward:

“No one knows me here. But we met when we crossed paths in the lawyer's cabin during the police period and in prison. I experienced 3 ward changes in prison. Unfortunately, I am staying in the murder ward.”

10.51 | BULUT AYDÖNER PRESENTED HIS DEFENSE

The court began with the defense of businessman Bulut Aydöner, the brother of CHP PM Member Baki Aydöner. Aydöner stated that he is a businessman and is being held in custody without any investigation being conducted about him. Halk TV reported Bulut Aydöner's defense as follows:

He stated that he is a businessman. He expressed that he is being held in custody without any investigation being conducted about him due to the statements given by so-called victim names. He showed placards with printed documents proving there was no irregularity and visuals of the lands related to the title deeds he received.

He said that he grew his own company thanks to his mother's financial assets and the advantages she provided, and that he has various stores. He also listed the locations of these stores one by one.

“A MASAK report has been prepared and put into the file as if our efforts were ignored. The company is my own company; I grew it by working hard. There can be no bribery in any way,” he said.

Stating that he was subjected to the accusation of "acting on instructions," Aydöner stated that he explained the company's growth process for this reason within the scope of the indictment. “All my work has been carried out properly and in accordance with the procedure. No off-the-record transactions have been made. I have been residing with my mother and father for 30 years. There can be no suspicion of me fleeing,” he said.

Touching on the instruction allegations, Aydöner said, “It is out of the question for my brother Baki Aydöner to give me instructions or for me to give him instructions. I have not been involved in a single forbidden act. I am included in this indictment because of two plots of land I bought on behalf of my company.”

When Bulut Aydöner, who also said that he carries out construction activities, was shown a promissory note by the Court President. It was stated that he had a signature on the 5 million 500 thousand lira promissory note issued in the name of Serbülent Danış, which was stated to be related to the transferred lands, and the issue was asked to him.

Aydöner said, “Why would I get into such a thing when I am sure that I gave the money? This is an official promissory note. It was already torn up and thrown away, and no other promissory note was issued.”

Stating that if money had been sent from the company, the other party might have made a withdrawal from the bank due to cash needs, Aydöner said, “When he withdrew other money and gave it to me, he could have said, 'I gave it to Bulut Aydöner.' He tried to save himself. I tried to explain that his statements were contradictory.”

Stating that Danış said in his first statement that he did not know Fatih Keleş, and later stated that he knew him, Aydöner said, “I think he did such a thing to create a scenario by seeing it in the media. He has no hostility towards me either. I don't understand why he did such a thing.”

The prosecutor also took the floor at the hearing and asked, “How could the promissory notes have been created? There is a stamp on it. I also examined the signatures, it also looks like your signature.”

Upon this, Aydöner said, “The work I do is always e-signed. We are in a digital age now. That stamp is not the official stamp I use. I think someone who lies so much can also forge documents.”

After his defense, which lasted more than an hour, Bulut Aydöner's lawyers took the floor. The court delegation asked the defendants and lawyers from time to time whether they would ask questions. It was stated that so far, only the Court President and the prosecutor have asked questions to Aydöner, and the promissory note in question was reflected on the screen in the hall and brought to the agenda.

10.41 | BULUT AYDÖNER BEGAN HIS DEFENSE

Bulut Aydöner began his defense. Identity verification was carried out.

10.40 | COURT PRESIDENT WARNED THE GENDARMERIE!

The court president gave the instruction to the gendarmerie, "Do not interfere with those who wave."

Lawyer: I mean, before you started the hearing, Mr. President, the hall was very tense. This was not a very healthy situation in terms of greeting the audience. You are the one who will give the instruction on this matter, Mr. President. Or if it is someone else, the law enforcement, I think it would be beneficial if an instruction was given that there is no harm in greeting his family at least. I submit it to your discretion.

Court President: Let's look at the records and evaluate whether there is an act contrary to the procedure? Well, there is no harm in waving, of course. I mean, that's not the problem...

10.35 | THE DELEGATION ARRIVED, THE HEARING BEGAN

The court delegation arrived. After the detained defendants were brought into the hall, the delegation started the hearing.

10.32 | İMAMOĞLU ARRIVED

Detained presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu was brought to the courtroom as of 10.32. İmamoğlu was greeted with slogans of "President İmamoğlu" and applause. Unlike the first two days, İmamoğlu entered with files in his hand this time. İmamoğlu had come with a book in his hand for the first two days.

10.28 | FATİH KELEŞ AND NECATİ ÖZKAN ARE ALSO IN THE HALL

Fatih Keleş and Necati Özkan were also brought to the courtroom.

10.21 | "MEHMET, YOU ARE THE HONOR OF THE DEFENSE"

Journalist Muratcan Altuntoprak noted that İmamoğlu's detained lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan was greeted in the hall by saying "Mehmet, you are the honor of the defense," and that Pehlivan smiled and waved.

10.15 | MURAT ONGUN WAS GREETED WITH APPLAUSE

In the hearing that started with tension, the defendants continue to be brought into the hall. It was reported that Murat Ongun was greeted with applause.

10.11 | DİLEK İMAMOĞLU'S BROTHER: TREAT ME LIKE A HUMAN!

According to Halk TV, Dilek İmamoğlu's detained brother Cevat Kaya reacted to the gendarmes. After the gendarmes prevented the audience from being greeted, Kaya reacted by saying, "I have been paying taxes to this country for 40 years. Treat me like a human being."

10.00 | TENSION IN THE HEARING! GENDARMERIE INTERVENED

The detained defendants came to the courtroom with applause. It was alleged that Yavuz Saltık, who was trying to greet the audience at that time, was pushed by the gendarmerie. Tension broke out in the hall. Lawyers reacted to the gendarmerie.

09.55 | DEFENDANTS AND DELEGATION ARE EXPECTED

Press members and lawyers were admitted to the courtroom. The detained defendants and the court delegation are expected to arrive. The case will begin with the defense of detained businessman Bulut Aydöner.

09.44 | DİLEK İMAMOĞLU CAME TO WATCH THE HEARING

Ekrem İmamoğlu's wife, Dilek İmamoğlu, came to the courtroom to watch the case.

09.10 | ENTRIES TO THE HALL HAVE BEGUN

Entries to the courtroom have begun for the case, which will start at 10.00.

***

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST DAY?

The tension was high in the first session of the IMM trial held yesterday.

Upon an argument between the court president and İmamoğlu, an instruction was given to evacuate the hall, and the audience began to be removed from the hall. The court delegation left the hall, saying, "I am not conducting the trial until you leave." İmamoğlu said, "You didn't come here to judge, you can't leave by running away from here." The hearing was adjourned until 13.30. After a half-hour delay, the hearing started again at 14.00. İmamoğlu's lawyers, Hasan Fehmi Demir and Fikret İlkiz, requested the recusal of the judge. The court president rejected the request for recusal.

TENSION CONTINUED ON THE SECOND DAY

The second day of the hearing also began with tension. After the summary of the 3,900-page indictment was read, Ekrem İmamoğlu took the floor before the defense and made a speech. İmamoğlu said, "The name of this indictment is a slander-ment. Whatever they have done in their 15 years of municipal administration, they have attributed it to İmamoğlu. I have come to 8-9 hearings. I have always come and spoken. You didn't give me the right to speak yesterday. I am the mayor. I am a presidential candidate in the next elections." The court president announced that the interim decision will be issued in April.