Akın Gürlek's statement on the IMM case: I want to ask if Mr. Ekrem stands behind his 'let it be broadcast live' rhetoric

The 66th session of the trial, held by the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court at the courtroom in the Marmara Closed Prison complex in Silivri, concluded with the defense statements of 15 defendants who are being tried without arrest.

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, a guest on the Tv100 television channel, made important statements regarding the case. 

"THEY EXPLAINED HOW THE MONEY FLOWED IN THE SYSTEM ESTABLISHED"

Stating that courts are not political arenas and that political shows cannot be staged, Gürlek said, "There are accusations against you, and you make your defense regarding those accusations. Ekrem İmamoğlu has been turning that place into a political arena for a long time. The statements of the individuals currently being heard show an internal settling of scores.

Most recently, Muzaffer Beyaz, Ertan Yıldız, and Adem Kameroğlu were heard. They openly explained how money was laundered in the system established by İmamoğlu. There is a tension here between the defendant Ekrem İmamoğlu and these defendants."

"I DON'T KNOW IF MR. EKREM STILL WANTS A LIVE BROADCAST"

Expressing that these individuals had previously benefited from effective remorse during the prosecution phase, the Minister responded to allegations that pressure was being placed on the defendants, saying:

“As you know, there is a panel in the courtroom right now. We see that the individuals heard during the prosecution phase are repeating the same statements.

Here, too, the court is asking questions regarding the acts attributed to Ekrem İmamoğlu, and İmamoğlu is creating tension.

At the very beginning, when this case was opened, there was rhetoric such as, ‘Let this trial be broadcast live, we trust ourselves.’ I would like to ask now whether Mr. Ekrem would still maintain the same attitude.”

Akın Gürlek'ten İBB davası açıklaması:
Ekrem Bey, 'canlı yayınlansın' söyleminin arkasında durur mu sormak istiyorumhttps://t.co/179nS33fdl pic.twitter.com/MDlN3Ejllq

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) August 27, 2026

"THE INDIVIDUAL THERE WANTS TO TELL THE TRUTH"

Reminding that the court can grant sentence reductions to those who benefit from effective remorse, Gürlek said, "The individual there also wants to tell the truth. Hearings had already been conducted during the prosecution phase, and they repeated these statements.

The court is holding hearings 4 days a week, and the hearing of the defendants without arrest has now begun."

"STATEMENTS ARE BEING COMPARED WITH EACH OTHER"

Stating that the investigation did not start based on a single statement, the Minister of Justice included the following remarks:

“The prosecutor asks where he received the money and from which bank he withdrew it. That is then investigated. For example, he says, ‘I gave it to İmamoğlu’s friend Fatih Keleş’; these are compared to see if they match each other.

This operation was not carried out based on the statement of a single witness or confessor. All of these were compared with HTS and MASAK records.

In the ongoing process, the lawyers, the trial prosecutor, and the court panel are all asking questions. He says he gave money, but where and to whom he gave it is definitely being verified.”

News Source: 12punto