"Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ are under investigation for espionage."

24.10.2025 07:50

Former Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from office and arrested as part of a corruption investigation, along with İmamoğlu's campaign director Necati Özkan and journalist Merdan Yanardağ, is being investigated for the crime of "espionage." Yanardağ has been detained. A search is being conducted at the Tele1 channel.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's espionage investigation revealed that Hüseyin Gün, identified as an agent for foreign countries, had secret military information, foreign passport photos, and organizational connections in his digital materials.

"ESPIONAGE" AND "CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION FOR PROFIT"

Within the scope of the investigation, actions were initiated against Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, and Merdan Yanardağ on charges of "espionage" and "criminal organization for profit."

MERDAN YANARDAĞ DETAINED

Merdan Yanardağ, the founder of Tele1 TV, was detained while a search was being conducted at the television channel.

"PERSONAL DATA SOLD ON THE DARK WEB THROUGH THE 'ISTANBUL IS YOURS' APPLICATION"

In another investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was determined that the personal data and location information of 4.7 million users were leaked to two different foreign countries through the "Ekrem İmamoğlu Criminal Organization for Profit" via the "ISTANBUL IS YOURS" application, and the personal data and location information of 3.7 million users were put up for sale on the "dark web." It was also found that the data of 11 million individuals was processed and leaked outside the program through a sub-application named "IBB HANEM" within the same application.

Actions were taken against 15 suspects, including 13 suspects and 2 suspects who issued fake invoices to the companies of the fugitive organization leader Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, for illegally obtaining personal data, violating tax procedural law, and being a member of the Ekrem İmamoğlu Criminal Organization for Profit.

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