IMM case to last 12.5 years: Date set for İmamoğlu's court appearance
The Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court prepared the preliminary proceedings report 17 days after accepting the IMM indictment on November 25. As the hearing schedule has been clarified, it was decided that the first hearing of the trial, which is projected to last approximately 12 years and 6 months, will be held on March 9, 2026.
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The IMM indictment, which consists of approximately 4,000 pages and involves a total of 402 defendants, including CHP's imprisoned presidential candidate and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, was accepted by the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court on November 25, and the case was opened.
In the first detention review conducted 10 days after the acceptance of the indictment, the court ruled for the continuation of the detention status for 106 defendants separately. Following this process, a second panel was assigned to the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court with the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) decree published last week. Within the scope of the decree, the member judges in the court's first panel were changed. The first detention evaluation was also carried out by this new panel.
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS REPORT PREPARED AFTER 17 DAYS
17 days after the acceptance of the indictment, a preliminary proceedings report was prepared and the hearing schedule was determined. The court decided that the current status of the 106 detained defendants should continue. It was announced that the first hearing of the trial, which is planned to last approximately 12 years and 6 months, or 4,600 days, will be held on March 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
It was stated that the hearings will be held at the Marmara Penal Execution Institution campus in Silivri. It was noted that the defenses of the detained defendants will be taken first during the trial process.
CASE TO LAST 12.5 YEARS
In the "Trial Target Duration Form" prepared by the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court, it was stated that the case is planned to be concluded within 4,600 days.
The statements in the form are as follows:
"It is aimed to complete the trial in a maximum of 4,600 days, and the contribution and support of the parties and lawyers are of great importance in achieving this goal. Considering that delays caused by reasons originating from the parties are not taken into account in the calculation of the target duration, we kindly request that you show sensitivity to these issues."
NEW JUDICIAL DECISION FOR FUGITIVE DEFENDANTS
The arrest warrants issued during the investigation phase for fugitive defendants Ali Gül, Emrah Bağdatlı, Hakan Karademir, İbrahim Bülbüllü, Merthan Açıl, Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, and Sedat Gündüz were lifted. It was ruled that new arrest warrants be issued for these individuals.