01.05.2026 00:03
The prosecutor of the IMM case requested the release of the arrested defendants Emrah Yüksel, İsmet Korkmaz, Mehmet Çağlar Kuru, Ulaş Yılmaz, Yusuf Utku Şahin, Çağlar Türkmen, Adem Soytekin, Seyhan Özcan, and Nuri Cem Ceylan. Meanwhile, a person allegedly filming during the hearing was taken into custody.
The 30th hearing of the first session of the 'Corruption' case against Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and arrested, continued to be held by the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court in the courtroom located within the Marmara Penal Execution Institutions Campus. During the hearing, Ekrem İmamoğlu requested to be given the right to speak before the court's evaluation of his detention. Tension erupted in the courtroom when the court president stated that the right to speak would not be granted.
During the hearing, the release of 9 individuals, including the confessor Adem Soytekin, was requested, while one person recording video in the hall was taken into custody.
"IF YOU KEEP SHOUTING, WE WILL REMOVE YOU FROM THE HALL"
When Ekrem İmamoğlu requested the right to speak, the court president said, "We will not grant any privileges to anyone in this manner. There is an order here. Our lawyers have previously made their requests regarding granting the right to speak, and we have addressed the same matter. Mr. Ekrem, there is no need for us to make a special exception for you." In response, Ekrem İmamoğlu raised his voice, saying, "The indictment has already made an exception." The court president then said, "Mr. Ekrem, if you continue shouting like this, we will remove you from the hall."
"IF YOU CONTINUE WITH THIS TONE, I WILL TAKE YOU OUTSIDE"
İmamoğlu said, "This trial cannot proceed like this. Are you here with a different motivation, Mr. President? I am obliged to convey the emotions experienced here to you." The court president responded, "You have stated your request, and we deemed it inappropriate. I have said each time that the right to speak will not be granted separately." Ekrem İmamoğlu stated, "Your reluctance to listen to Ekrem İmamoğlu, even for 15 minutes, will harm you in the eyes of the public." The court president said, "Now you are doing this: no one will speak, only I will speak. Mr. Ekrem, if you continue with this tone, I will take you out of the hall." When İmamoğlu asked "who," the court president replied, "You."
"WHY WOULD WE MAKE AN EXCEPTION HERE?"
The president continued, "You have the status of a defendant here. You should not even be engaging in this much dialogue. I am warning you, and you continue. This dialogue cannot go on like this. I am not imposing any restrictions on granting the right to speak to anyone. We have decided on a current practice. Why would we make an exception here?"
İMAMOĞLU: I HOPE YOU CHANGE YOUR DECISION
Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "Nearly 90 people are imprisoned here. According to this indictment, you know that Ekrem İmamoğlu will not speak on his own behalf but on behalf of the people here. The 15 minutes of emotion that İmamoğlu will convey to you, contributing to the decision you will make today, will also contribute to human rights. This decision you make today will follow you, and it will be incomplete. Do you know why I will contribute? For the nation. I hope you change your decision."
DETENTION DURING THE HEARING
It was determined that an individual was recording video during the hearing. A person named E.T., who was taken into custody, was subjected to legal proceedings on charges of 'unauthorized recording during the hearing.'
RELEASE REQUEST FOR 9 INDIVIDUALS
During the hearing, the public prosecutor announced his opinion regarding the detained suspects. In his opinion, the prosecutor requested the release of İBB Data Expert İsmet Korkmaz, İBB Software Coordinator Emrah Yüksel, İBB computer engineer Mehmet Çağlar Kuru, İBB City Planner Nuri Cem Ceylan, İBB Social Media Consultant Ulaş Yılmaz, advertiser Yusuf Utku Şahin, Ekrem İmamoğlu's bodyguard Çağlar Türkmen, businessman Adem Soytekin who benefited from effective remorse, and Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney's Private Secretary Seyhan Özcan, considering the current evidence situation and detention periods. The hearing was adjourned for the court to make an evaluation.