Significant development in Ekrem İmamoğlu's 'fake diploma' case: New decision regarding 27 people

It has emerged that a separation decision was made in the case opened regarding the diploma of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which was canceled on March 18. İmamoğlu has been held in the Marmara Prison in Silivri since March 23 as part of a 'financial investigation' into the İBB.

Accordingly, the files of 27 people whose diplomas were canceled along with İmamoğlu's were separated from his file, but a lawsuit was filed only against Ekrem İmamoğlu. 

According to the report by Engin Deniz İpek from Cumhuriyet, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's separation decision stated that the testimonies of the 27 people whose diplomas were canceled along with İmamoğlu's had not been completed, that the investigation process regarding the suspects was ongoing, and that a separation decision was necessary to prevent the investigation from being delayed.

Following the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office decision dated June 24, an indictment was prepared on July 4 within the scope of the ongoing investigation regarding İmamoğlu's diploma.

In the indictment prepared with the accusation of "forgery in a chain," it was stated that "Ekrem İmamoğlu obtained the diploma fraudulently and participated in the crime of forgery," while a prison sentence of up to 8 years and 9 months and a political ban were requested for İmamoğlu.

The Istanbul 59th Criminal Court of First Instance, which accepted the indictment, announced that İmamoğlu will appear before the judge on September 11 at 13:00 within the scope of the case.