10.03.2026 12:20
Tensions rose during the second hearing of the corruption case involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, which includes 402 defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu. As the gendarmerie wanted to place an extra chair in front of İmamoğlu, the defendants stood up, leading to a brief moment of tension in the courtroom. İmamoğlu asked, "Are you going to tape my mouth shut?" while the Presiding Judge stated, "We haven't been able to conduct the trial since yesterday because of you." The hearing continues with the removal of the chair.
The second hearing of the "corruption" case against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), involving 402 defendants including Ekrem İmamoğlu, has begun. In the case where 106 defendants are in custody, a prison sentence of up to 2,352 years is being sought for İmamoğlu. The hearings are expected to last approximately 45 days without interruption.
CHAIR TENSION RAISED THE BLOOD PRESSURE
Following the tense first hearing, the standoff between İmamoğlu and the judge continues in the second session. On the second day of the hearing, a "chair" debate in the courtroom led to increased tension. The tension rose in the hall when the gendarmerie attempted to place an extra chair in front of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was sitting by the corridor.
"ARE YOU GOING TO TAPE MY MOUTH SHUT?"
After İmamoğlu was brought in, the gendarmerie placed a chair in front of him to prevent him from going to the podium. İmamoğlu responded, "Are you going to tape my mouth shut, who are you blocking? The judge will come and explain why he placed it. I am standing, I am not sitting. There is no such order. Judge, it is a disgrace for you to do this. It sticks to your forehead," he said.
DISPUTE BETWEEN THE JUDGE AND İMAMOĞLU
Judge: That is your discretion.
İmamoğlu: Who did you receive instructions from?
Judge: We did not receive instructions from anyone.
İmamoğlu: If you are going to act as a judge, if you are going to represent the esteemed Turkish judiciary, you must also defend our rights. I came to protect you as well.
Judge: Let's not get into unnecessary polemics, Mr. Ekrem, I do not need your protection.
İmamoğlu: Why are you afraid? I might be addressing my lawyer, why are you not allowing it?
Judge: This is not a place for you to address your lawyer. We have not been able to conduct the trial since yesterday because of you.
Upon this, the lawyers began to chant.
Judge: Why are you shouting? Nothing changes by shouting this much; I can hear you already. The purpose of the application there was to prioritize lawyers with power of attorney. We received complaints from the lawyers with power of attorney yesterday. We consulted with the bar president and reversed our decision.
The hearing began around 11:05 with identity verification after the discussion. After the identity verification was completed, the summary of the indictment began to be read. Aykut Erdoğdu will make the first defense in the hearing.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST DAY?
The case began to be heard on March 9, about a year after Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained on March 19, 2025.
On the tense first day, the presiding judge requested the audience to be removed, and after the audience, including CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, did not leave, the court panel reversed its decision after consulting with CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik.
After CHP leader Özel criticized the court panel at the end of the hearing, an investigation was launched against Özel.
Özel criticized the total seniority of the three judges on the panel, which was 11 years, saying, "Incompetence is oozing from their sleeves. The person who will emerge from the world's most complicated indictment, which has a 4,000-page indictment seeking 2,400 years of punishment, cannot even find the door to the court out of excitement."
In response, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation against Özel for insulting the court panel.
IMAMOĞLU FACES UP TO 2,000 YEARS IN PRISON
The investigation into Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and arrested, was completed, and on November 11, 2025, an indictment of 3,809 pages was prepared. İmamoğlu, who is named as the 'leader of the organization', is accused of committing crimes such as 'Establishing an Organization for the Purpose of Committing Crimes', 'Bribery', 'Money Laundering', 'Fraud to the Detriment of Public Institutions and Organizations', 'Recording Personal Data', 'Seizing and Disseminating Personal Data', 'Concealing Criminal Evidence', 'Obstructing Communication', 'Causing Damage to Public Property', 'Receiving Bribes', 'Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information', 'Extortion', 'Laundering Assets Derived from Crime', 'Interfering with Tenders', 'Deliberately Polluting the Environment', 'Violating the Tax Procedure Law', 'Violating the Forestry Law', and 'Violating the Mining Law'. İmamoğlu is sought to be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 828 years and 2 months to 2,352 years for 142 actions.
WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF APRIL
The first hearing of the case was held yesterday. The hearings will continue four days a week until the end of April. In the hearing held in the building of the Marmara Open Prison Campus in Silivri by the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court, the defendants will continue their defenses.