Allegations regarding prison conditions in IMM case refuted

In the 'corruption' case with 402 defendants against Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and arrested, detained defendant and former CHP MP Aykut Erdoğdu took the floor.

Erdoğdu claimed that detainees were not given food or water during the trials held in the courtrooms, that the holding cells were filthy, that torture was being committed, that sandwiches were served with cheese cut with a razor blade, and that the seating areas were in very poor condition.

Allegations refuted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office

The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a written statement regarding the defendant's allegations. The statement read, "It has been observed that news and posts that do not reflect the truth have been made in some media outlets and social media accounts, based on the statement of a defendant who took the floor at the hearing dated 06/04/2026 of the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court's file numbered 2025/318, claiming that detainees were not given food or water during the trials held in the courtrooms at the Marmara Penal Execution Institution, that the holding cells were filthy, that torture was committed, that sandwiches were served with cheese cut with a razor blade, and that the seating areas were in very poor condition.

The courtrooms located at the Marmara Penal Execution Institutions Campus, which fall within the duty and responsibility area of our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, are used intensively for hearings of case files with a large number of parties and security risks. In the building where the courtrooms are located, there are a total of 6 holding cells, 3 for men and 3 for women, with a total capacity of 300 people in an area of 1,208 square meters.

Two correctional officers are permanently on duty in this area, along with 10 to 200 gendarmerie personnel depending on the number of detainees attending the hearing. The cleaning of the area is carried out regularly by the prison administration, and daily rations and water are provided according to the number of detainees attending the hearing.

Furthermore, as a result of the evaluation made by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the practice of providing the evening meal to detainees as a hot meal obtained from the campus general cafeteria, depending on the hearing hours, has been initiated.

On the other hand, in trials where more than one court is conducting proceedings in the halls at the Marmara Penal Execution Institutions, it is planned to provide hot meals instead of ready-made rations for the lunch meal, depending on overlapping hearing dates, the number of defendants, and the lunch break durations to be granted by the court," the statement said.

News Source: 12punto