The court decision regarding İmamoğlu's arrest has emerged.

23.03.2025 22:02

A court decision regarding three suspects, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested as part of a "corruption" investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, has been reached. In the decision, it was stated that the benefits obtained from businessmen were transferred to companies that are partners of the organization leader İmamoğlu, facilitating his personal enrichment. Two other individuals were released under judicial control.

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The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is conducting investigations against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from his duties and arrested, and 99 suspects for crimes including "being a leader of a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "bribery," "qualified fraud," "illegally obtaining personal data," and "interfering with a tender." Investigations are ongoing against 7 suspects, including İmamoğlu, IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, and Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, for the crime of "aiding the PKK/KCK terrorist organization."

THE JUDGE'S DECISION ON İMAMOĞLU'S ARREST HAS EMERGED

In the corruption investigation, the decision of the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of Peace to arrest Ekrem İmamoğlu and to release suspects Ahmet Hamdi Çiçek and Ahmet Talha Bilgin under judicial control measures such as travel abroad and signing has been reached. The court's decision stated that the arrest of suspect İmamoğlu was requested for the crimes of "illegally recording personal data," "receiving bribes," "interfering with the tender of public institutions or organizations," and "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes." The decision noted that, based on MASAK reports, witness statements, HTS examinations, preliminary reviews of tender files, and tax audit expert reports, it was determined that İmamoğlu, who had been accompanied by individuals under his command since his term as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü, appointed them to the heads of the municipality's units and subsidiaries after becoming the IMM President. It was stated that "irregular tenders, direct procurements, or qualified works through service procurement" were systematically committed in many municipal subsidiaries, including "interfering with a tender," "qualified fraud," "illegally obtaining personal data," "bribery," and "extortion."

'DETAIL OF THE 'SECRET MEETING'

The decision stated that the leader of the organized crime group was the undisputed and unopposable sole authority within the organization, and it was understood that the instructions given by the group leader and manager were carried out by the organization members under the other group managers. The decision noted that secret meetings were held by the group managers to identify the companies to be awarded tenders and to determine the companies that would submit side bids, the tender amount, and the proportion that would go to the organization, and that the collector participated in the secret meetings held by the organization's upper management or directly delivered these funds to the group managers.

"INTERESTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO COMPANIES PARTNERED WITH İMAMOĞLU, ENABLING HIS WEALTH"

The decision of the criminal court stated that "under İmamoğlu's leadership, many tenders were interfered with through his close circle in Media Inc. and Culture Inc., managed by suspect Murat Ongun, fraudulent tenders were conducted to the detriment of public institutions, and fake invoices were issued." It was noted that in the structure managed by Fatih Keleş, businessmen referred to as "cashiers" were given privileges in tenders, and properties obtained as a result of bribery or extortion were transferred to these businessmen. The decision also mentioned that Keleş received money from businessmen who wanted to collect their receivables from the municipality under the name of "commission," and in the structure managed by Tuncay Yılmaz, the benefits obtained from businessmen were transferred to companies partnered with İmamoğlu, ensuring his personal enrichment.

"PERSONAL DATA OF CITIZENS WAS ILLEGALLY OBTAINED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES"

The decision stated that in the structure managed by Ertan Yıldız, some businessmen located in different municipal borders were forced to pay money, and administrative sanctions were applied to those who did not pay. It was noted that businessmen receiving payments from municipal subsidiaries transferred money to construction projects partnered with Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the personal data of citizens living in Istanbul was illegally obtained within the scope of organization activities.

"COMPANIES OPENED ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYEES RECEIVED HIGH-VALUED JOBS FROM MEDIA INC. AND CULTURE INC."

The decision evaluated that "many tenders were interfered with between 2021-2023, as determined by tax audit reports and MASAK reports," stating that they ensured that only people close to them received these tenders. It was expressed that to avoid drawing attention, they opened many companies on behalf of employees working with them and received high-valued jobs from Media Inc. and Culture Inc. The decision explained that some companies were established as single-job entities, later having no active commercial life, while some companies were established solely to issue fake invoices, and through these actions, the crime of fraud to the detriment of public institutions was continuously committed within the hierarchical structure.

"FUNDS WERE TRANSFERRED TO COMPANIES BELONGING TO ORGANIZATION MEMBERS THROUGH COLLUSIVE CONTRACTS"

The decision stated that "it was determined that by not applying the fines that should be imposed due to the contractual violations of the individuals awarded the jobs, public damage and the unjust enrichment of these individuals were caused, and as a result of collusive contracts and service procurements, the money transferred to companies whose representatives were organization members was funneled to individuals or relatives working for these organization members by establishing companies and obtaining fake invoices from these companies, and the funds were transferred to subsidiary companies, which in turn issued fake invoices among themselves, and the circulated money was withdrawn in cash and handed over to the organization's collectors." It was emphasized that companies renting advertising spaces subject to private ownership must obtain permission from the municipality to hang advertisements and must apply to the municipality, while it was stated that although the Municipality Urban Design Directorate was authorized to grant permission, the companies were directed to Culture Inc.

"MONEY WAS COLLECTED UNDER THE NAME OF 'CULTURE INC. GRAPHIC DESIGN FEE' FROM COMPANIES"

The decision stated that Culture Inc. requested fees from companies in exchange for granting permission, and that companies issued invoices to the company under the same subject by signing collusive contracts under the name of "Culture Inc. graphic design fee," thus unlawfully tying the advertising permission to a fee.

In this way, it was emphasized in the decision that a separate budget was created outside of the advertising budget of Kültür AŞ, and that these funds were transferred to companies belonging to organization members through sham contracts, causing significant public damage.

REASONS FOR ARREST

In the decision, the following was recorded: "Under the orders and instructions of the leader of the criminal organization, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and its executives, it was continuously committed within a hierarchical structure, and the criminal organization was specialized in these acts. When the MASAK reports, witness and complainant statements, HTS records, law enforcement minutes, and the entire file are evaluated together, there is strong suspicion that the suspect committed the crimes attributed to him. It is assumed that there are grounds for arrest due to the fact that the attributed crime is among catalog crimes, and due to the nature and characteristics of the attributed crimes and the lower and upper limits of the penalties foreseen in the law, the likelihood of fleeing and hiding is high. For this reason, it is concluded that the application of judicial control measures at this stage would be insufficient, and it has been decided that the arrest of the suspect is proportionate."