27.02.2025 15:50
The indictment regarding 'Expert Witness' against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which requests a prison sentence of up to 4 years and a political ban, has been accepted by the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance. İmamoğlu will appear before the judge on June 12.
The indictment prepared regarding the statements of the expert S.B. about Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been accepted.
An indictment was prepared against İmamoğlu on the charge of "attempting to influence a judicial officer, an expert, or a witness" for allegedly targeting the expert assigned to the investigations and cases, with a request for a prison sentence of 2 to 4 years. The indictment in question was accepted by the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance.
IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu will appear before the judge on June 12.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that an investigation was initiated ex officio on the grounds that İmamoğlu publicly targeted one of the experts assigned to certain investigations and public cases during a press conference he held on January 27, with the aim of obtaining a decision favorable to the suspects of the investigation.
In the indictment, the expert S.B., whose statement was included, stated that his name was suddenly published in various media outlets and social media due to İmamoğlu's statements, and that he was subjected to a smear campaign.
S.B. expressed that he has never engaged in any unlawful acts and that he has served as an expert in many cases related not only to the CHP but also to other parties.
PUBLIC OPINION WAS INTENDED TO BE FORMED
In the indictment, it was stated that during the press conference, IMM Mayor İmamoğlu mentioned certain investigations and prosecutions in which the expert was involved, and it was assessed that he aimed to create a public opinion suggesting that the expert and the judicial bodies were not independent and impartial, and that he attempted to influence the official expert duties he was performing in various investigations and prosecutions seen in the Istanbul Courthouse and other courthouses through the public pressure that would be formed in this way, and that he attempted to influence the case file being heard at the 10th Criminal Court of First Instance in Büyükçekmece.
In the indictment, a prison sentence of 2 to 4 years was requested for İmamoğlu for the crime of "attempting to influence a judicial officer, an expert, or a witness."
Additionally, it was requested that the provision of Article 53, paragraph 1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which states, "A person who is convicted of a crime committed intentionally shall be deprived of the right to hold a permanent, temporary, or intermittent public office as a legal consequence of the conviction," be applied, including membership in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey or employment in all public offices and services subject to appointment or election by state, provincial, municipal, village, or institutions and organizations under their supervision and control.
The indictment was sent to the Criminal Court of First Instance for evaluation.