Expulsion request for İmamoğlu's advisor: CHP moves against Ertan Yıldız

It has been learned that a petition has been filed for the expulsion of Ertan Yıldız, an advisor to İmamoğlu who was arrested as part of the investigation into the IMM and has applied for 'effective remorse' from the CHP. Meanwhile, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into two of İmamoğlu's lawyers following allegations that they exerted pressure on Yıldız.

It has been learned that Ertan Yıldız, the Chairman of the IMM Assembly Commission on Subsidiaries and Affiliated Institutions and an advisor to IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested as part of a 'corruption' investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), has written a petition and provided new testimony to benefit from effective remorse. 

Claiming that certain demands were made of companies in exchange for tenders, Yıldız used phrases such as "I heard," "I estimate," and "I think" regarding the bribery allegations.

Finding the statements in Yıldız's testimony insufficient, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent Yıldız back to Kandıra Prison, where he is being held in custody.

APPLICATION FOR EXPULSION

According to a report in Cumhuriyet, the CHP Kadıköy District Presidency has submitted a petition to the party administration for Yıldız's expulsion from the party.

In the application petition submitted by CHP Kadıköy District Vice President Okan Karamanlı, it was requested that Yıldız, who is also a CHP IMM Assembly member from Bakırköy, be referred to the disciplinary board in the first instance and subsequently expelled from the party.

It was learned that Yıldız became a member of the CHP shortly before the local elections on March 31, 2024.

INVESTIGATION INTO İMAMOĞLU'S LAWYERS

On the other hand, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated in a press release that reports had appeared in social media and some press outlets on May 11 stating that Yıldız had 'filed a petition to benefit from effective remorse and provided testimony containing effective remorse.'

The statement continued, "Following the reports, especially over the last 3 days, under the organization of Kemal Polat and Mehmet Pehlivan, lawyers for the suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is the leader of a criminal organization, attempts were made to have a 'press release stating that the aforementioned testimony was obtained under duress' signed at the Marmara Closed Penal Execution Institution, where he is still being held, through lawyers who have no power of attorney relationship with the suspect Ertan Yıldız; and within the scope of reports that Yıldız and his family were threatened for this purpose, as well as findings made by the prison administration, our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated ex officio investigation proceedings."