12.09.2025 16:10
Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested as part of a corruption investigation, appeared before a judge over allegations of a fake university diploma. İmamoğlu denied the allegations and described the case as a "disgrace." During the hearing, a situation occurred that had never happened before in legal history: İmamoğlu was defended by his detained lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, who connected via SEGBİS (the Audio and Visual Information System).
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Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested as part of a corruption investigation and removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul, has begun to be tried on the grounds that his university diploma is fake.
HEARING IN SILIVRI
The case, seen at the Istanbul 59th Criminal Court of First Instance, was held in the courtroom in Silivri. İmamoğlu, who is detained on charges of corruption, was brought to the courtroom under the escort of gendarmerie.
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, his wife Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, his son Selim İmamoğlu, his father Hasan İmamoğlu, and many party members and deputies attended the hearing. Slogans such as "Rights, law, justice" and "President İmamoğlu" were chanted in the courtroom.
"THE EXISTENCE OF THIS CASE IS A SHAME"
During the hearing, the judge read the summary of the indictment and the charges. İmamoğlu said, "None of the things you mentioned have anything to do with me, your honor."
Criticizing the case in his defense, İmamoğlu stated, "The existence of this case is a shameful situation. Today is September 12, it reminds the Turkish society of the coup. I hope our country does not face such coups, but we are currently in a coup process. Those who make the decisions are making the society pay the price for their crimes," he expressed.
Referring to the allegations regarding his diploma, İmamoğlu said, "To annul the diploma; they could even say that the TRNC, where I transferred to Istanbul University, does not exist."
A FIRST IN JUDICIAL HISTORY! İMAMOĞLU WAS DEFENDED BY DETAINED LAWYER PEHLİVAN
While İmamoğlu was talking about his lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, the judge asked, "Do you have a request for him to attend the hearing?" A break was given for the preparation of documents. Then, Pehlivan, who is in Çorlu Prison, connected to the hearing via SEGBİS at 14:57.
Pehlivan stated, "We are currently experiencing a first in legal history. I am connecting and practicing law without my robe, without having met my client even once. I am here as a detained lawyer."
Pehlivan, who requested to physically attend the next session, asked, "Do you find it appropriate to make a defense under these conditions?" and stated that he would make his defense when he is present in court.
ALLEGATIONS IN THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that the University College of Northern Cyprus (UCNC), where İmamoğlu studied, is not recognized by YÖK.
It was reported that in YÖK's letters dated 1988 and 1992, it was stated that only Eastern Mediterranean University is recognized in the TRNC. Additionally, the indictment claimed that the horizontal transfer quotas were unlawfully increased, that 54 students were admitted to a quota of 3, and that some students were removed from the list and replaced by others.
REQUEST FOR IMPRISONMENT
In the indictment, it was requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to up to 8 years and 9 months in prison for the crime of "systematic forgery of official documents."
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