15.10.2026 13:22
With the allegation of an “İmamoğlu profit-oriented criminal organization,” the 99th hearing of the case in which 436 defendants, 53 of them detained, are being tried began at Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court. On the second day of his defense, which will last 4 days, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from his post as İBB Mayor, began by wishing God’s mercy upon 14-year-old Mahmut Işıldak, who lost his life by being electrocuted in Fatih during the flood in Istanbul, and argued that the problems experienced in the downpour could be explained by population planning and urbanization problems.
Trials are continuing in the case opened within the scope of investigations into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and in which 436 defendants are being tried. At the 99th hearing of the case, Ekrem İmamoğlu’s defense continued.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL ALSO ATTENDED THE HEARING
Some detained defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as İBB Mayor; Mehmet Murat Çalık, who was removed from his post as Beylikdüzü Mayor; and Murat Ongun, Chairman of the Board of Media AŞ, attended the hearing held by the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court in the courtroom opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution. Some non-detained defendants and lawyers were also present at the hearing.
New Party Chairman Özgür Özel, some MPs, İmamoğlu’s father Hasan İmamoğlu, his wife Dilek İmamoğlu, and his son Selim İmamoğlu were also among the audience in the courtroom.
İMAMOĞLU STARTED HIS DEFENSE WITH THE FLOOD
İmamoğlu began his defense by asking God’s mercy for M.I., the 14-year-old who lost his life after being electrocuted in a puddle in Fatih during the flood in Istanbul, and patience for his relatives. Stating that he had watched the news, İmamoğlu argued that the case he is being tried in cannot be interpreted separately from yesterday’s disaster.
“THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM”
Arguing that the problems experienced during the downpour can be explained by population planning and urbanization issues, İmamoğlu said that the construction of the towers in Kağıthane and Ayazağa is a major problem. The hearing is continuing with İmamoğlu’s defense.
IN THE INDICTMENT, THE CLAIM OF “160 BILLION LIRAS OF PUBLIC LOSS”
In the indictment prepared by the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Presidency of the Civil Inspection Board is listed as the “notifier,” while the Ministries of Treasury and Finance, Interior, Energy and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Forestry, the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the İBB Presidency, and the Şişli Municipality are included as “aggrieved by the crime.” The main indictment contains 407 defendants—7 of whom are fugitives and 5 of whom are “complaining defendants”—and 16 complainants.
In the indictment, which alleges that the organization was founded in 2014, it is assessed that “the benefit obtained from 143 acts and the public loss caused, as of the dates of the offenses (excluding current value), consist in total of approximately 160 billion liras and 24 million dollars in movable assets, and 95 immovable properties in Istanbul and across the country in real estate.”
PRISON SENTENCE OF UP TO 2,430 YEARS SOUGHT FOR İMAMOĞLU
In the organization chart in the indictment, Ekrem İmamoğlu is shown as the “organization ringleader,” while Murat Ongun, Fatih Keleş, Adem Soytekin, Ertan Yıldız, Hüseyin Gün, and fugitive defendant Murat Gülibrahimoğlu are shown as “organization managers.” According to the chart, 10 organization members are directly linked to İmamoğlu, 77 to Keleş, 35 to Ongun, 8 to Yıldız, 7 to Gün, and 6 members each to Gülibrahimoğlu and Soytekin.
For İmamoğlu, a prison sentence of 849 years to 2,430 years and 6 months is sought for a total of 16 offenses, including “establishing an organization with the aim of committing a crime,” “bribery,” “corruption,” “money laundering of assets derived from crime,” and “rigging a tender,” as well as “fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations.”
SENTENCES SOUGHT FOR DEFENDANTS ALLEGED TO BE MANAGERS
In the indictment, a prison sentence of 556 years 8 months to 1,542 years 8 months is sought for Fatih Keleş, 287 years 6 months to 779 years 6 months for Murat Ongun, and 86 to 251 years for Ertan Yıldız. For Adem Soytekin, 67 to 194 years, for fugitive defendant Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, 19 years 6 months to 51 years, and for Hüseyin Gün, 20 to 40 years are sought.
It is requested that the provisions on “effective remorse” be applied to Soytekin, Gün, and Yıldız, who are said to have provided information about the structure and activities of the organization.
PRISON SENTENCE ALSO SOUGHT FOR ŞAHAN AND ÇALIK
A prison sentence of 35 to 91 years is sought for Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, who was removed from office after his arrest, for the offenses of “taking bribes,” “corruption,” and “being a member of an organization established to commit a crime.” For Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, 30 to 88 years in prison are sought for 7 counts of “taking bribes” and “being a member of an organization established to commit a crime.”
2 INDICTMENTS MERGED WITH THE CASE
The indictment concerning 7 defendants, including İnan Güney, who was removed from his post as Beyoğlu Mayor, was also merged with this case. For the defendants İnan Güney, İsmail Akkaya, Seyhan Özcan, Veysel Eren Güven, Sabriye Akkaya, Mehmet Akif Bulut, and Deniz Göleli, a prison sentence of 9 years 8 months to 31 years 8 months is sought for the offenses of “aiding an organization established to commit a crime without being a member” and “fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations.”
The indictment prepared against 29 defendants on the allegation that tenders were rigged by operating a fictitious tender system through Ağaç ve Peyzaj AŞ was also merged with the case. In this file, for Ekrem İmamoğlu, Fatih Keleş, and Ali Sukas, prison sentences of 62 to 168 years each are sought for the offenses of “rigging a tender,” “forgery of official documents,” “taking and giving bribes,” and “mediating bribery,” while for the other 26 defendants, 3 to 168 years in prison are sought.
During the trial process, with the release of 63 defendants along with the merged files, 53 detained defendants remained in the case.