Release decision for two people in the IBB case.

03.09.2026 20:50

In the 'corruption' case against the IBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality), 414 defendants, 53 of whom are under arrest, including Ekrem Imamoglu, appeared before the judge at the 75th hearing. In his defense, Imamoglu said, 'The Minister of Justice spoke about this case and asked, 'I wonder if he wants the case to be broadcast live?' Yes, I want it broadcast live.' In its interim ruling, the court decided to release Ali Riza Akyuz, the Deputy Mayor of Bakirkoy, and advertiser Serkan Ozturk. The hearing was adjourned to Monday, September 7.

The case against 414 defendants, including 53 detained individuals, among them Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and arrested, was heard by the Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court in a new courtroom built at the Marmara Closed Prison in Silivri.

AYIK: THERE IS NO CRIME I AM INVOLVED IN OR AWARE OF

Fatoş Ayık, the detained defendant and Purchasing Manager of Media A. Ş., who made a statement regarding her release at the hearing, said, “In the institution where I have worked for 15 years, my aim has been to do my job properly, to improve business processes for the public benefit, and to earn the salary I deserve. I have never been a member of an organization, I have never been aware of the existence of the alleged organization, and I have not engaged in organizational activities. Within the scope of my duties, authority, and responsibilities, I have not committed any act that is unlawful, irregular, could harm a person or institution, or could provide unjust benefit to me or someone else. I did not act with such an intent or purpose. There is no crime I am involved in or aware of. I wish to request my release from your honorable court,” she said.

GÖKCE: I SIGNED WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY MY PUBLIC DUTY

Buğra Gökce, the detained defendant and head of the Istanbul Planning Agency, while requesting his release, said, “How have I served an organization? Which organization did I serve? I did not earn money. I did not gain a position; I came as someone who had served as secretary-general and served as deputy secretary-general. I strongly reject all the actions they try to claim I signed on behalf of an organization. I signed what was required by my public duty. There is no one making an accusation regarding my name in relation to the events. I have committed no crime. Up to this point in my life, I have never been involved in even the slightest offense; I have led an exemplary life. I ask for justice from you. I have no other request,” he said.

GÜLTEN: NO CONCRETE ACT THAT COULD CONSTITUTE A CRIME HAS BEEN PRESENTED

Ramazan Gülten, the detained defendant and head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Zoning and Urbanization, while requesting his release, said, “No direct statement or concrete act indicating that I demanded benefits has been presented. No concrete act, instruction relationship, or organizational link showing that I acted within a criminal organization has been established. The matters cited as grounds for membership in an organization against me consist solely of the works and transactions required by my public duty, which I carried out as zoning director for 5 years and as head of the zoning and urbanization department for 1 year, along with professional contacts. Throughout my professional life, I worked to implement zoning legislation, combat illegal and unlawful construction, and protect the rights of the city and the public. I frequently encountered reactions from individuals who did not prepare their projects in accordance with the legislation, did not fulfill their obligations, or could not obtain the construction rights they wanted. Nevertheless, while performing my duty, I looked not at who the individuals were, but at what the legislation said. No concrete act has been presented showing that I obtained personal benefit, acted with the aim of benefiting someone else, received an unlawful instruction, or made a personal intervention that could constitute a crime. At this stage, I believe that the continuation of my detention is neither necessary nor proportionate. I request my release,” he said.

“I SHOULD NOT BE IN PRISON BASED ON EXAGGERATED STATEMENTS”

Murat Ongun, the detained defendant and chairperson of the board of directors of İBB Media A. Ş., said, “You have listened to 100 detained defendants. I would like to ask: among these statements you have not yet heard but which we assume will be repeated here, have you read or heard any statement such as, ‘The tender specification was prepared according to such-and-such a company, advertising work was given to such-and-such companies at low profit margins in tenders, such-and-such companies gained unjust profit through fake progress payments even though they did not perform the work from the tenders they won, such-and-such companies were favored in tenders, they won all the tenders, positive discrimination was applied, fake progress payments were made, or goods worth 1 lira were purchased for 5 lira’? Even among those who have shown effective remorse, has anyone said, ‘With Murat Ongun’s knowledge and approval, I submitted a collusive bid, which you call a side bid, for such-and-such tender’? Is there any complaint to any state body, even to CİMER? The answers to all these questions are no. Because of the work I do, not as Murat Ongun but because İmamoğlu, with whom I work, is a significant political actor, I am someone who has engaged in a serious communication and perception war with rival political organizations. This is my job. My being on this front line and having done it successfully may have angered some people on the other side and made them furious with me. But I should not be in prison for 18 months based on attributed perceptions and exaggerated statements. In the words of Ertan Yıldız, I request my release with the judicial control measure of house arrest, which is a punishment of great difficulty, suffering, and even madness,” he said.

İMAMOĞLU: EVERYONE KNOWS NO ORGANIZATION WILL COME OUT OF HERE

Ekrem İmamoğlu said, “In an environment where the concept of an ‘organization’ is being discussed, when I look at my friends behind me, everyone can see that no organization will come out of here. Whoever wants to look can see it. But if they do not look, if they do not want to see, we have no way of forcing them to see it. No organization will come out of here; the nation sees this too. We are facing a system that needs to be analyzed thoroughly, inside and out. You can call this system a ‘regime’ or an ‘organization.’ While all this is happening, the Minister of Justice, speaking about this case, asks, ‘I wonder if he wants the trial to be broadcast live?’ Yes, I want it broadcast live. Since the process of March 19, I am someone who has faced 15 criminal cases. Twenty-three judges have been changed in my hearings. The independence and impartiality of courts are the fundamental conditions of the judicial authority exercised on behalf of the nation. A Minister of Justice cannot tell a defendant how to present a defense in an ongoing trial. He cannot characterize a defendant’s defense as a ‘political show.’ He cannot make statements that could constitute advice or suggestion to the court regarding an ongoing case,” he said.

“THE OPERATION TO SEIZE CONTROL OF THE CHP IS CONTINUING THROUGH NULLITY DECISIONS”

İmamoğlu said, “They say, ‘Let the defense be made based on evidence’; no one has seen a single piece of evidence. For a 4,000-page indictment, I was asked, in an unprecedented manner, to complete my defense, including my lawyers’ defenses and interrogation, in 7-8 hours. Despite my insistence that I wanted to make my defense freely and that no time limit should be imposed, my defense was obstructed. I was falsely accused of avoiding making a defense. I was removed from the courtroom. The decision not to bring me to the hearing was unlawfully implemented. By taking my words, that the defense was not a classic defense and that I would actually put on trial those who wrote the indictment, out of context, the court panel issued a misleading decision claiming I would not make a defense and that I was exercising my right to remain silent. The operation to seize control of the CHP, to eliminate one’s rival, and similar actions are unfortunately continuing to be carried out by the regime through apparatuses appointed by the unlawful and shameful nullity decisions of the judicial branches.”

RELEASE DECISION FOR 2 DEFENDANTS

In its interim opinion, the prosecutor's office requested the continuation of the detention of all arrested defendants.  In its interim decision, the court panel decided to release Bakırköy Deputy Mayor Ali Rıza Akyüz and advertiser Serkan Öztürk. The hearing was postponed to Monday, September 7.