Expected verdict not reached in Ekrem İmamoğlu's expert witness trial

No verdict was reached in the trial of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, known publicly as the "expert witness case." While there was an expectation that the case would be dismissed following the completion of the preliminary payment process, the file was postponed to December 8, 2026, due to a change in the trial prosecutor.

PRELIMINARY PAYMENT COMPLETED, NO VERDICT REACHED

According to information provided by journalist Muratcan Altuntoprak, the charge of "influencing an expert witness" was removed from the file in the previous hearing. Upon the remaining charge being evaluated within the scope of preliminary payment, İmamoğlu's lawyers fulfilled the preliminary payment process indicated by the court.

Following this development, there was an expectation that a decision to dismiss the case would be made at today's hearing.

PROSECUTOR CHANGED, FILE POSTPONED

However, due to the change in the trial prosecutor, the newly appointed prosecutor requested additional time to review the file. The court accepted the request and postponed the hearing for the case, for which the preliminary payment had been made, to December 8, 2026.

HOW DID THE INVESTIGATION BEGIN?

The investigation was launched after Ekrem İmamoğlu claimed during a press conference titled "The Big Radish" (Turpun Büyüğü), held before his arrest, that the same expert witness had been assigned to investigations into CHP-run municipalities.

İmamoğlu stated that an expert witness named Satılmış B. had also served in investigations regarding IMM subsidiaries IETT and ISFALT, as well as the Esenyurt and Beşiktaş municipalities, and a lawsuit was filed against him following these statements.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PREVIOUS HEARING?

In the previous hearing, the public prosecutor provided an opinion stating that the crime of "attempting to influence an expert witness" as included in the indictment had not occurred. The prosecutor argued that İmamoğlu's action could only be evaluated within the scope of the crime of "attempting to influence a fair trial," regulated under Article 288 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

The court, however, decided that the remaining charge fell within the scope of preliminary payment and adjourned the hearing to today for the completion of missing procedures. Due to the change in prosecutor, the file has now been postponed to December 8, 2026.

News Source: 12punto