18.03.2026 11:42
The trial involving 402 defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, related to "corruption" against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality began with tension and continued with discussions, and today İmamoğlu took a step. In a brief speech at the podium, İmamoğlu said, "We have come to these restrictions from a situation where everyone wanted the trial to be broadcast live. I kindly ask you to take my words into consideration. We are entering a holiday. Sometimes you make such a statement that you ensure people's right to be tried without detention. You will go down in history."
The investigation into "corruption" directed at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has been completed, and an indictment of 3,809 pages was prepared on November 11, 2025. The indictment seeks a prison sentence of up to 2,352 years for Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose name is mentioned as the "organization leader" for various crimes. The hearings, which began on Monday, March 9, were tense and controversial. In fact, the fifth session lasted only 7 minutes due to the disputes.
Today, the sixth session of the hearing has begun. The first defense is expected to be made by Murat Or, the private secretary of Ali Sukas, the General Manager of Ağaç A.Ş.
İmamoğlu came to the podium with permission from the Presiding Judge and made a brief speech.
"WE HAVE COME TO THESE RESTRICTIONS DUE TO THE LIVE BROADCAST OF THE HEARING"
According to Engin Deniz İpek from Cumhuriyet; Ekrem İmamoğlu, criticizing the audience restrictions, stated:
"Everyone is ready to take responsibility. Please, I urge you to think about this during the holiday. The restrictions do not benefit you, your committee, or the fair trial process of the people in the slightest. People really need this. If you revise all of this and keep your negotiation door open, no one will disrespect your position. You will lose nothing from transparency. The winner will be the great Turkish judiciary and the great Turkish nation.
We have come to these restrictions from a situation where everyone wanted the hearing to be broadcast live. This is not a correct evolution. This case is a very big case, and your responsibility is very great. Please, I urge you to consider what I have said.
"YOU WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY"
We are entering the holiday. Sometimes you make such a move that you ensure people's right to be tried without detention. You will go down in history."
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
On the sixth day of the trial, the court panel listened to the defenses of Ağaç A.Ş. employees and some business people.
Ümit Polat, the Purchasing Manager of Ağaç A.Ş., who benefited from effective remorse, was cross-examined. After the interrogation, Polat took the floor again and expressed that he had difficulties during the detention process.
Then, Fatih Yağcı, the Purchasing Chief of Ağaç A.Ş., made a defense. Yağcı argued that the statements of the secret witness codenamed "Gürgen" in the indictment did not reflect the truth.
Detained business people Ali Üner and Enver Şiroğlu also did not accept the accusations directed at them.
Nuri Aslan, the Deputy Mayor of IMM, who wanted to follow the hearing, was not allowed into the hall.
SO FAR, 8 DEFENDANTS HAVE MADE DEFENSES
The first hearing of the IMM case started on March 9. The court panel announced that the trial would continue until the end of April.
So far, a total of 8 defendants have made defenses. In the first week, former CHP Deputy Aykut Erdoğdu, businessman Bulut Aydöner, Sırrı Küçük, and Ümit Polat provided their defenses.
In the sixth session held on March 17, Ümit Polat, Fatih Yağcı, Ali Üner, Evren Şiroğlu, and Hüsnü Yüksel Tunar appeared before the court.
The fifth session of the trial lasted only 7 minutes due to a "seating crisis." After the tension experienced, the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court imposed new restrictions regarding the order of the hearing.
THERE WILL BE NO HEARING ON MARCH 19, THURSDAY
The seventh hearing, which will be held in the building of the Marmara Open Prison Campus in Silivri by the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court, will continue to take the defendants' defenses. On the other hand, there will be no hearing on Thursday, March 19, due to the eve of Ramadan Bayram.
NEW MEASURES FROM THE COURT
The Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court has taken a new precautionary measure regarding the order of the hearings. Only defendants, their lawyers, complainants, press members, and first and second-degree relatives of detained defendants can enter the courtroom.
DETAILS FROM THE INDICTMENT
After being detained, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as Mayor of IMM, is depicted as an organization manager in the indictment, which includes many accusations. The indictment, consisting of 3,739 pages, states that irregularities were made in tenders, metro and İSKİ loans were used for purposes other than intended, and donations were forcibly collected from business people. It is also stated in the indictment that the collected money was primarily used to seize the CHP administration and was intended to be used for İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy in the ongoing process. A prison sentence of up to 2,430 years is requested for Ekrem İmamoğlu.