Striking comments from İmamoğlu's lawyer on the IMM indictment! 'It could take years...'

IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was detained during the March 19 operation, was arrested on corruption charges and sent to Silivri Prison on March 23, the day he was announced as the CHP's presidential candidate.

The long-awaited indictment in the IMM investigation, in which 17 CHP mayors are also being held, was shared with the public in recent days. İmamoğlu, who is held responsible for 142 acts, faces up to 2,352 years in prison.

İmamoğlu's lawyer, Fikret İlkiz, made statements regarding the indictment, which spans approximately 4,000 pages. Stating, "The fact that the indictment is 4,000 pages long means a violation of the right to a fair trial," İlkiz reacted to the process.

Journalist Burcu Uğur's YouTube channel, İlkiz responded to questions and stated that the volume and preparation method of the indictment render the trial ineffective, saying, "Such an indictment cannot be clear and understandable. People cannot reach the judiciary regarding the allegations against them. This is the main issue."

In his evaluations during the program, İlkiz also drew attention to the role of the media in the judiciary, stating, "Courts are not established in the media," and added:

"The question 'Have you read the indictment?' is a kind of mirror of the legal situation we are in in Turkey. I would like to specifically state why I am saying this."

IT COULD TAKE YEARS

Stating that the scope of the indictment could spread the trial over years, İlkiz said:

"The fact that the indictment is 4,000 pages long means a violation of the right to a fair trial. Such an indictment cannot be clear and understandable. People cannot reach the judiciary regarding the allegations against them. This is the main issue: the elimination of the right to a fair trial. The necessity to put a stop to lawlessness is manifesting itself. Some parts of the indictment are written in red. An evaluation has been made according to the actions taken by the individuals. An 'İmamoğlu criminal organization' has been created, and it has been taken back 10 years with financial crimes such as bribery and extortion. This means that people are being associated with concepts like forming an organization since 2014.

People want a fair and effective judiciary to defend themselves. For this reason, the common order is to be brought before a judge. Everyone says, 'This will take years.' Yes, it could take years. Preventing the effective use of this right means writing a 4,000-page indictment."

"THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE CANNOT MAKE MISTAKES"

Pointing out that the news in the media shapes the trial, İlkiz continued his criticisms as follows:

"A court cannot be established in the media. People cannot be tried through the media. We will explain this in court. As a prosecutor, you do not have the right to make a press statement; you can only provide media briefings. However, news appeared in Yeni Şafak before the indictment was published. It was Ankara-sourced. The news was published before the prosecutor's office made a press statement. The prosecutor's office does not have the right to make mistakes."

In his assessment of the nature of the indictment, İlkiz also said, "An indictment should be an impartial and accurate document that respects human dignity. I am of the opinion that this indictment is not so. The state does not set traps for its citizens. If it is said that you can serve in the municipality, people serve."

EMPHASIS ON "REGIME CHANGE"

Expressing his opinion on which court should hear the case, İlkiz drew attention to the technical details of the process and spoke as follows:

"The natural venue for this case is the 40th High Criminal Court in Çağlayan. The courtroom is small; that does not concern me. This is the state's problem.

The indictment is there, but its annexes have not been released yet. What is important is to be able to see what evidence was used to consider what is interpreted as an 'act' in the indictment as a crime. We have not seen the annexes yet."

İlkiz also emphasized that it was against the law for the photos of the CHP's 38th General Assembly to be presented in the indictment by being marked with red circles.

At the end of his remarks, stating that the nature of the indictment could be an indicator of a wider transformation, he said:

"It is said that other indictments will also come. We know this because of the process that has passed. The indictment we are facing is a text that gives signs of a regime change beyond describing the structure of a criminal organization."