25.03.2026 09:21
The trial of 407 defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, in the "corruption" case against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) is ongoing. The 10th hearing of the trial will continue with the cross-examination of Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, who was released from the "Urban Reconciliation" case but remains in custody under the corruption case while being suspended from his duties.
The trial regarding "corruption" against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) is ongoing, with 407 defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, 107 of whom are in custody, appearing before the judge in the third week of the hearing. The 10th day of the trial, where İmamoğlu is being prosecuted with a request for up to 2,000 years in prison, is expected to start around 10:00 AM.
The 10th session of the trial will continue with the cross-examination of Resul Emrah Şahan, the Şişli Mayor who was arrested and released during the "City Consensus" investigation and is currently in custody in relation to the "Corruption" case against IMM, while being suspended from his position.
"I AM A MAYOR WHO RECEIVED THE VOTE OF 7 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE, A TRUSTEE IS SITTING IN MY CHAIR"
Resul Emrah Şahan, one of the 12 people who have defended themselves so far, made the following statements in the previous session:
"Şişli Municipality is adjacent to Çağlayan Courthouse, the parcel where the courthouse is located belongs to the municipality. The municipality has provided it. On March 18, I was discussing these matters with the prosecutor's office; if they had called me, I would have gone. I was taken from my home at 5:30 AM. On the morning of March 19, the trust between the state and society was severed. The main story here is the will of Şişli. I am a mayor who received the vote of 7 out of 10 people in Şişli. Today, a trustee is sitting in my chair. I am here before you one year after my arrest. I am here with thousands of letters and support from my 12 square meter cell. They say, 'You are guilty.' I ask, 'What am I guilty of?' They say, 'I don't know.'
"I WAS RELEASED FROM THE CITY CONSENSUS IN 5 MINUTES"
I was arrested on March 19 in relation to the city consensus case. The reason was the Republican People's Party's politics of the Turkey Alliance. I was arrested because I advocated for the representation of Kurds in the parliament from the western provinces, together with my party as a politician and mayor. The representation of Kurds in the western provinces. My dear President, who are the Kurds in the western provinces? Maybe you, maybe our friends in the delegation, our friends in the hall. Our neighbor. Our brother. I stand behind this politics. While there is social support for a terror-free, democratic Turkey process, which is one of the most critical thresholds in the history of Turkey's Republic, it is absurd to arrest a mayor in the city consensus case. I will quote a sentence from the statements of the ruling politicians of that time. 'Consensus is not a weakness in these lands. It is a requirement of the state’s wisdom and the nation’s foresight.' We stood there. That was the city consensus. It was not about conflicting over identities, but about managing the city together by meeting on common values. Given this, this operation thwarted the state’s wisdom and the collective effort to take another leap for democracy. It was done against the state. While Turkey was crossing the most important historical threshold regarding the Kurdish issue, it was a contradiction to keep a mayor in custody from the city consensus. I was arrested from the city consensus on March 19. I started waiting for the indictment. Four months later, in July, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer was released from the city consensus. At that time, statements like 'It is the time of brotherhood, let’s strengthen the internal front' came. The lock of Emrah's cell was opened. If you lowered the handle of the door, it would open. Therefore, a second lock was needed for that door. In August, effective repentants testified, saying Emrah. On September 12, I was suddenly called for testimony. It was only witness statements. I was arrested solely based on witness statements. And who were they? The contractors who do the biggest business with the ministry and the state in Turkey. The biggest contractors in Turkey. Those who have received the largest tenders. Their consultants. People who follow their work. Then what happened? In February 2026, I was released from the city consensus in 5 minutes.
"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE INSTITUTION"
First of all, I want to start with 'Action 13'. This is the best example of the strangeness regarding the overall logic of the indictment. Why? The first place my name appears is Action 13. I am accused of 'giving, disseminating, and seizing personal data to others.' No one has referred to my statement on this matter. I learned when the 'surprise' indictment came. My name is not in any suspect's statement, any witness's testimony, any report, in the police report, or even in the suspect list. I am expected to prove that this indictment is wrong. My dear President, it is stated in the accusation that 'it is acted in the capacity of the President of the Istanbul Planning Agency.' It has been a long time since I left the presidency of the IPA. In 2024, I had the position of Chairman of the Board of BİMTAŞ to properly connect this position at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality; I had resigned from that position as well. However, my colleagues at the IPA and I are being accused based on a panel that is claimed to have taken place at the end of November or the beginning of December 2023. During this period, it is claimed that I, as a mayoral candidate who had resigned and was campaigning in the field, gave instructions. The baselessness of the indictment starts here; it is already practically impossible. It is not possible for me to give instructions to the institution," he said.
"THEY CREATE A CRIME ELEMENT BY USING THE OBLIGATION TO RENEW"
Now let’s come to the reason for my arrest. I was arrested over a 'park construction' issue. They said: 'You have delayed the occupancy.' There is a protocol, there is an obligation. This obligation dates back to 2020. The company does not explain the obligation from 2020; they are trying to create a crime element by using the obligation they had to renew in 2024 because they could not complete the park. There is a promise made in 2021. In 2024, during my term, they renewed the obligation saying 'I could not complete the park'; because the process of demolishing some shanties in that area was awaited. The indictment does not mention the original obligation from 2020 at all. So what is the result? The project owner has a promise for a park; given to the homeowners. We followed this public benefit. A university land in Turkey is being turned into a $500 million profit through the law numbered 6306 and parcel-based plan amendments. Apartments with pools on their balconies are being sold. The person builds the entire sales strategy on the public green area below, promises it, saying 'I will build the public area.' Regulations are being changed to exclude their pools from the zoning regulations. I become president and say: 'Wait a minute, brother, you have a fire safety deficiency, complete this.' It is unbelievable, but I am the only person in custody in Turkey due to this issue," he said.
"NOBODY HAS GIVEN OR RECEIVED MONEY"
Resul Emrah Şahan stated, "We know this place as ProfiloAVM. The narrative of the process in the indictment does not overlap with the facts in any way. In the indictment, there are statements from two people, the owner and the manager of the company, regarding this action. It mentions information conveyed to Süleyman Çetinsaya and a meeting of the company’s general manager before the March 2024 elections. They are talking about my presidency period, but there is no concrete situation; there is no event where anyone has given or received money. The main issue here is the public land of 2,600 square meters, valued at approximately 520 million lira, in the parcel where they want to make a project.
We were very determined to implement that planning decision. This is the land of Profilo Shopping Mall; a construction company is coming and wants to make a housing project here. In 2020, the Ministry made a change in the zoning plans, requesting that the conditions for construction be determined by the district municipalities and the Metropolitan Municipality. During my presidency, the Artaş group was supposed to relinquish a 2,600 square meter area to the public. If they want to obtain a permit and make a project here, it is a condition that this parcel be separated and relinquished to the public. They say: 'No, I will use this as a site garden and private parking.' This is evident in their own documents. We said, 'No way.' All we did was defend the public right. The tragicomic part of the matter, do you know? We initiated these processes while I was the mayor. What the company calls 'the process is being delayed' is our determination to implement the planning decision. And what was the result? Just 20 days before my arrest, this area officially passed into the ownership of Şişli Municipality. The process is complete. Right now, that 2,600 square meter area worth 520 million lira belongs to the people of Şişli," he said.
"I AM HERE BECAUSE I DID NOT DO WHAT THE CONTRACTORS WANTED"
In his defense, Resul Emrah Şahan said, "I made a press statement opposing the 72-story skyscraper. We said we need green space. We defended this. The owner of this project gave a statement in the file. He called me 'vampire,' he called us 'gang.' When they sealed this place, their permits were revoked. He did not recognize it, we filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office. The governor called me, hopefully, he won't deny it. He said, 'What will happen, there are skyscrapers everywhere, let there be a skyscraper here too.' We stopped where we needed to stop. I am being prosecuted for not collaborating on this skyscraper project. This is the issue here. I was expected to ignore it. I am here because I did not do what the contractors wanted," he said.
ŞAHAN'S CROSS-EXAMINATION
After his defense, Şahan's cross-examination began. The defendant Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality after his arrest, took the floor and said that he and Şahan had been in a shared fate for about 12 years.
İmamoğlu referred to the indictment prepared against seven suspects, including İnan Güney, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Beyoğlu after his arrest, saying, "It seems another indictment has been added, it has been referred to our court. If accepted, will I get an additional 30 years or will there be a new indictment? Or should we not care about the fractions anymore?"
Presiding Judge Selçuk Aylan stated that they accepted the indictment but had not yet made a decision on consolidation.
İmamoğlu then asked Şahan, "During the period we served together, did I ever engage in any irregular, unlawful, or interest-oriented understanding of duty with you?"
Şahan replied, "When the prosecutor arrested me, he asked, 'Do you do everything Ekrem İmamoğlu says?' I said there is no such thing."
When İmamoğlu asked, "Did I ever tell you to make even one person a municipal council member?" Şahan responded, "No, that did not happen."
After Resul Emrah Şahan answered the questions, İmamoğlu said, "My dear Emrah President, may God protect you."
Source: DHA, AA