12.11.2025 02:04
The investigation into the "corruption" case involving Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul who has been suspended from his duties, has been completed. The prepared indictment includes Ekrem İmamoğlu and 402 suspects, 105 of whom are in custody. The indictment requests a prison sentence for Ekrem İmamoğlu ranging from 828 years to 2352 years.
The investigation into corruption against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has been completed. An indictment consisting of 3,900 pages has been submitted to the court. A total of 402 individuals have been named as suspects in the indictment.
PUBLIC LOSS OF 160 BILLION LIRA
Among the suspects facing public prosecution, 99 are members of the organization, 1 is the founder and leader of the organization, suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu, and 6 are organization executives, suspects Fatih Keleş, Murat Ongun, Ertan Yıldız, Murat Gülibrahimoğlu, Adem Soytekin, and Hüseyin Gün. The remaining individuals are not members of the organization but are included as connected persons in the indictment. The indictment states, "The public loss over a 10-year period is 160 billion lira."
PENALTY SOUGHT FOR İMAMOĞLU
In the context of the corruption investigation, the indictment also requests the punishment of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position, for the crimes he directly committed, including establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, bribery (12 times), money laundering (7 times), and fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations (7 times).
All allegations against Ekrem İmamoğlu in the indictment are as follows:
Direct allegations:
- Establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes
- Bribery (12 times)
- Money laundering (7 times)
- Fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations (7 times)
Indirect allegations:
- Interference in the tender process (70 times)
- Receiving bribes (47 times)
- Extortion (9 times)
- Fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations (39 times)
- Money laundering of assets derived from crime (4 times)
- Recording personal data (2 times)
- Seizing and disseminating personal data (2 times)
- Concealing evidence of a crime (3 times)
- Publicly disseminating misleading information
- Obstructing communication
- Damaging property allocated for public service belonging to public institutions and organizations
- Causing environmental pollution
- Violating tax procedure law
- Violating forest law
- Violating mining law
NUMEROUS OPERATIONS CONDUCTED IN 8 MONTHS
On March 19, 2025, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued an operation order against hundreds of suspects, including İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, on charges of "corruption." As a result of the operation, Ekrem İmamoğlu and many other suspects were arrested and sent to prison on March 23. Following the first operation on March 19, new evidence obtained, confessions, and statements from secret witnesses led to 9 operations being conducted over an 8-month period, resulting in the arrest of many individuals. On the 232nd day of Ekrem İmamoğlu's detention (November 10), the prosecutor's office completed its investigation and announced its allegations regarding the charges.