'Sexual assault' crisis in IMM investigation: The witness in the indictment...

Following the operation carried out against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), prominent figures such as CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu and IMM Medya AŞ Chairman of the Board Murat Ongun were arrested.

Ahead of the trial process set to begin on March 9, 2026, certain details and scandals within the indictment continue to come to light.

In a statement made on his social media account, Murat Ongun alleged that an individual listed as a witness in the indictment had previously been convicted of sexual assault. Ongun stated that the witness had also been convicted of crimes such as theft, threats, and insulting a public official, and argued that this person had participated in TGRT and Sabah group broadcasts. Ongun expressed that this situation has caused great astonishment regarding the judicial process and the accusations.

According to Ongun's allegations, the individual highlighted as a witness, Hasan Hüseyin Şenyurt, is a person who has been convicted of many different crimes. Ongun claimed that Şenyurt had previously been convicted of crimes such as theft, threats, and insulting a public official, and specifically that he had been punished for sexual assault crimes.

According to Ongun's statements, Şenyurt was convicted twice for sexual assault and, despite this, was allowed to speak to the public by participating in TGRT and Sabah group broadcasts.

“A SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENDER BECAME A WITNESS”

In his post, Murat Ongun stated, “The IMM witness is a sexual assault offender. A shameful witness; Hasan Hüseyin Şenyurt. He is a crime machine. He has been convicted of many crimes such as theft, threats, and insulting a public official.” Ongun noted that Şenyurt's inclusion in the indictment as a witness in more than 50 incidents poses a major problem. Ongun also said that such a person's words were taken into account to level accusations and that they would discuss this situation during the judicial process.

“WE ARE FACING SLANDEROUS WITNESSES”

In his post, Murat Ongun alleged that not only Şenyurt but other IMM witnesses also provided false testimony. Stating, “The IMM witnesses and slanderers gave false statements without exception,” Ongun expressed that they would provide more information regarding the testimonies of these witnesses in the later stages of the judicial process.

Finally, expressing his reaction to the witness testimonies published in the media, Ongun said, “You could have at least not given credence to the words of a sexual assault offender!”