The third hearing of the case in which Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, journalist Merdan Yanardağ, İmamoğlu’s campaign director and advisor Necati Özkan, and Hüseyin Gün are being tried on charges of "political espionage" has concluded.
The defendants' statements were heard at the hearing held at the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court in Silivri. The prosecutor requested that the detention of all four defendants be continued.
The prosecution argued that there is "concrete evidence indicating a strong suspicion of crime" regarding the defendants and that judicial control measures would be insufficient. The prosecutor also requested an inquiry into the status of a formal letter previously sent to the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), which has not yet reached the case file.
Announcing its interim ruling, the court ordered the continued detention of İmamoğlu, Yanardağ, Özkan, and Gün. The court also decided to continue the procedures regarding the letter previously sent to MİT.
In previous hearings, the court had sent a letter to MİT requesting notification of whether there were any reports or findings within the organization regarding the defendants engaging in "espionage activities." It was stated at the third hearing that the response to this letter had not yet reached the file.
The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office demands a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years for the four defendants on charges of "political espionage." The next hearing of the case has been adjourned to December 23, 2026.
News Source: 12punto
