12.06.2025 10:30
The first hearing of the case in which Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is detained in Silivri, is being tried for "attempting to influence an expert witness" will take place today. İmamoğlu and his lawyers will not attend the hearing in response to the recent decision to move the trial from Çağlayan to Silivri. So, how will the proceedings of the hearing unfold? Here is the answer to the question that many are curious about.
The first hearing of the case in which Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from duty due to corruption allegations, is being tried for "attempting to influence an expert witness" will be held today.
IMAMOĞLU AND HIS LAWYERS WILL NOT ATTEND THE HEARING
Ekrem İmamoğlu and his lawyers reacted to the recent decision to move the first hearing at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance from Çağlayan to Silivri. It has been reported that İmamoğlu and his lawyers will not attend the hearing. Özgür Çelik, the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman, also announced that the rally they planned to hold in support has been canceled.
HOW WILL THE HEARING PROCEED?
So, how will the hearing proceed if İmamoğlu does not attend? The hearing is expected to start at 10:30, and after a wait of 15-20 minutes, an interim decision is anticipated. It is expected that the judge will issue a 'compulsory appearance order' for Ekrem İmamoğlu and that the case will be postponed.
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 he 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 suddenly 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 has never engaged in any unlawful acts and that he has served as an expert witness in many cases related to not only the CHP but also 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 "as established by the existing analysis report in the file, 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 expert duties 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 committed 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 he 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 title 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 a certain expert and that accusations were made against him based on non-existent reports, asserting that certain expert witnesses were appointed to every case opened 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 assigned to 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's General Director Suat Toktaş was arrested, while Serhan Asker, Seda Selek, Barış Pehlivan, and Kürşad Oğuz were released under judicial control.