Ekrem İmamoğlu to appear in court tomorrow: Trial to be held in Ergenekon courtroom

The trial of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested and removed from office on March 23 on corruption charges, regarding his remarks about Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, will begin on April 11.

The venue for the hearing, which was initially announced to be held at the Çağlayan Courthouse, has been changed and moved to Courtroom No. 2 at the Marmara Prison Complex in Silivri.

According to the BBC, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın, in his assessment regarding the change of venue, stated, "I remember this courtroom from the Ergenekon trials. The beginning of the film is the same, and the end will be the same."

As it will be recalled, the Ergenekon trials were held in the complex once known as Silivri Prison, and the sentences handed down in 2013 were overturned by the Court of Cassation in 2016.

İmamoğlu had argued that Gürlek, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Justice, could not maintain his impartiality for this reason.

He had also claimed that the investigations launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into CHP-run municipalities were politically motivated.

İmamoğlu will appear in court on charges of "threatening and targeting individuals involved in the fight against terrorism" due to his statements regarding Akın Gürlek.

In this case, prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 4 months for Ekrem İmamoğlu, as well as a ban from public office and the revocation of his right to vote and stand for election.

Akın Gürlek has led significant investigations since being appointed as the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor.

TENDER CASE ALSO ON THE AGENDA

On the other hand, a tender-related case concerning İmamoğlu's tenure as Mayor of Beylikdüzü will also be heard on April 11.

Following an investigation initiated by the Ministry of Interior in 2023, a lawsuit was filed against İmamoğlu on charges of "rigging a tender."

In this ongoing case at the Büyükçekmece 10th Criminal Court of First Instance, prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 3 to 7 years for İmamoğlu, as well as a potential political ban.

İmamoğlu served as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü between 2014 and 2019.

News Source: 12punto