Detention review day in IMM case: Interim decision expected

A monthly detention review is expected to take place today in the IMM case involving 414 defendants, in which Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is being tried while in custody.

In the trial held in Silivri, numerous sessions have been completed as part of the second hearing phase that began on August 17. The court panel is expected to evaluate the detention statuses and announce its interim decision regarding release requests on Thursday, September 3.

The trial process began on March 9 with 107 detained defendants. Following previously granted release decisions, the number of detained defendants has fallen to 53.

DEFENSE DISPUTE AND NEW INVESTIGATION

While the hearings were ongoing, a post made on İmamoğlu's X account on August 28 stated that the book titled "The Nation is My Witness," which reportedly contained his defense, was banned before it could be published. The post stated, "Printing houses were raided by security forces and the books were seized."

During the hearing in July, a dispute occurred between İmamoğlu and the presiding judge over the right to defense. The presiding judge had told İmamoğlu, "If you do not want to make a defense, I will record it in the minutes as 'I have exercised my right to remain silent' and close the session."

An investigation was launched against İmamoğlu for "threatening a public official" due to his remarks during that hearing. It was stated that the investigation was opened following İmamoğlu's words, "I will not make a defense, I will judge, do not worry, I will judge those who wrote the indictment..."

In the August 18 session, İmamoğlu objected to the statement recorded in the minutes, saying, "I did not exercise my right to remain silent. The concept of 'exercised the right to remain silent' is a completely fabricated concept. I also do not accept the word 'waiver'."

In the indictment, İmamoğlu is accused of numerous crimes, primarily "establishing and managing a criminal organization." In the approximately 3,900-page indictment, the prosecution is seeking a prison sentence ranging from 828 years to 2,352 years for İmamoğlu, whom they hold responsible for 142 separate acts.

News Source: 12punto