İmamoğlu's judicial marathon: To be tried in two courthouses on the same day! Here are the cases filed against him...
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu will appear in court in both Büyükçekmece and Çağlayan on April 11. On the same day, the "money counting" case, which CHP members view as a political maneuver, will also be heard.
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There are many cases filed against Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB) and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu for various reasons. Two of these cases will be brought to court on the same day. İmamoğlu will be forced to attend court in both Büyükçekmece and Çağlayan on April 11. On the same day, the case regarding the "money counting" footage, which CHP members claim was filed to discredit İmamoğlu, will also be heard at the Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse.
THE AKIN GÜRLEK CASE
The indictment prepared as a result of a rapidly initiated investigation into statements İmamoğlu made about Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and his family during a panel he attended on January 20 has been accepted. While the prosecution is requesting a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 4 months for İmamoğlu, April 11 has been set as the trial date.
THE "BID RIGGING" CASE
The eighth hearing of the case filed on charges of "bid rigging," which dates back to his time as Mayor of Beylikdüzü, was held on January 8 at the Büyükçekmece 10th Criminal Court of First Instance. Upon the prosecutor's request for additional time, the case was adjourned to April 11. In this case, İmamoğlu is being tried with a request for a prison sentence ranging from 3 to 7 years.
OTHER CASES AGAINST İMAMOĞLU
The "fool" (ahmak) case, which was filed on the allegation that he insulted members of the Supreme Election Council and which has come to the fore with a request for a political ban, has been pending in the appellate court for two years.
Additionally, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a new investigation into an expert witness whom İmamoğlu shared information about with the public during his "The Big Turnip" (Turpun Büyüğü) press conference, on the allegation of "attempting to influence those performing judicial duties." In this context, İmamoğlu went to the courthouse on January 31 to provide a statement.
THE "MONEY COUNTING" FOOTAGE CASE
The second hearing of the case in which 22 defendants, including İmamoğlu's colleagues, are being tried regarding the money counting footage allegedly filmed at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters, was held on November 29 at the Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse. Due to the insufficient physical capacity of the 59th Criminal Court of First Instance, the hearing was held in the 27th High Criminal Court hall and was adjourned to April 11.
The indictment requests that 22 defendants, including former Maltepe Mayor Ali Kılıç, his advisor Melih Morsümbül, former Şişli Mayor Muammer Keskin, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club President Fatih Keleş, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Vice Chair Özgür Nas, former CHP Istanbul Provincial Press Advisor Mustafa Can Poyraz, and İmamoğlu Construction Company General Manager Tuncay Yılmaz, be tried with a request for 6 months to 1 year in prison on charges of accepting donations, loans, or borrowing in violation of the Law on Political Parties.