12.06.2025 12:11
The trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is being prosecuted for the crime of "attempting to influence an expert witness," has been postponed to September 26 due to his absence from the hearing. It was decided that a letter would be sent to the correctional facility where İmamoğlu is held to ensure his presence at the next scheduled hearing.
The first hearing of the case in which Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is being tried for the crime of "attempting to influence an expert witness" was held today.
IMAMOĞLU AND HIS LAWYERS DID NOT ATTEND THE HEARING
Ekrem İmamoğlu and his lawyers reacted to the recent transfer of the first hearing at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance from Çağlayan to Silivri. It was reported that İmamoğlu and his lawyers would not attend the hearing. CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik also announced that the rally they planned to hold in support was canceled.
THE CASE WAS POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 26
The hearing was postponed to September 26 due to İmamoğlu's absence from the trial in which he is being charged with "attempting to influence an expert witness or a witness performing judicial duties" and "attempting to influence a fair trial." It was decided to write a letter to the penal institution where İmamoğlu is held to ensure his presence at the next scheduled hearing.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that an investigation was initiated ex officio on the grounds that İmamoğlu publicly targeted one of the expert witnesses assigned to some investigations and public cases during a press conference held on January 27, with the aim of obtaining a decision favorable to the suspects of the investigation.
In the indictment, the expert witness S.B., whose statement was included, stated that his name was published in various media outlets and social media due to İmamoğlu's statements, and that he was subjected to a smear campaign.
S.B. expressed that he had never engaged in any unlawful activities and that he had served as an expert witness in many cases related not only to the CHP but also to other parties.
"AIMED TO CREATE A PUBLIC OPINION THAT EXPERT WITNESSES AND JUDICIAL BODIES ARE NOT INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL"
The indictment stated that İBB President İmamoğlu mentioned some investigations and prosecutions in which the expert witness was involved during his press conference, and it was evaluated that he aimed to create a public opinion that expert witnesses and judicial bodies are not independent and impartial, and that with the public pressure that would arise from this, his official duties as an expert witness in various investigations and prosecutions being conducted in the Istanbul Courthouse and other courthouses were attempted to be influenced, and that he attempted to influence the case file being heard at the Büyükçekmece 10th Criminal Court of First Instance.
In the indictment, a prison sentence of 2 to 4 years was requested for İmamoğlu for the crime of "attempting to influence a judicial officer, an expert witness, or a witness." Additionally, it was requested that the provision in Article 53, paragraph 1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which states that "a person convicted of a crime intentionally shall be deprived of the right to hold a permanent, temporary, or interim public office as a legal consequence of the conviction," be applied.
WHAT HAPPENED?
During a press conference held on January 27, Ekrem İmamoğlu accused the expert witness of preparing a biased report, stating, "I call on the Minister of Justice. We also named this person in our press conference under the influence of the President. The name of our press conference is 'the big turnip.' I will share with you how non-existent reports entered the indictment and how people were accused based on unsigned reports, not just with words, but with documents." İmamoğlu claimed that the expert witness reports in his favor were reversed with the involvement of an expert witness in the cases against him, and that accusations were made against him based on non-existent reports, asserting that certain expert witnesses were appointed in every case against him, indicating a clear malice against him.
Shortly after this statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation against İmamoğlu on the grounds that he publicly targeted the expert witness in some investigations and public cases to obtain a decision favorable to the suspects. Following the unauthorized publication of a phone conversation with the expert witness and the disclosure of his name, Halk TV General Manager Suat Toktaş was arrested, while Serhan Asker, Seda Selek, Barış Pehlivan, and Kürşad Oğuz were released under judicial control.