21.03.2025 08:40
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been detained as part of investigations into terrorism and organized crime. Following his 4-day detention period, he is expected to appear before a judge by Sunday, March 23 at the latest. While the outcome of İmamoğlu's statement is eagerly anticipated, four scenarios are emerging. Here are the four scenarios and what may happen afterward...
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The investigation launched against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is ongoing. There are 106 suspects in two different cases involving allegations of collaborating with the terrorist organization PKK, placing PKK members in jobs, corruption, and bribery. While 19 people are wanted, the procedures for 87 individuals are still ongoing at the police station.
IMAMOGLU UNDERWENT A HEALTH CHECK
As part of the investigations, Murat Ongun, the advisor to the Mayor of Istanbul and Chairman of İBB Media AŞ, along with some suspects including Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık and Ali Nuhoğlu, were subjected to a health check at the additional building of the Istanbul Medical Faculty, located near the Istanbul Police Department's Vatan Campus. Meanwhile, it was learned that Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was detained as part of the two investigations, also underwent a health check at the same location.
FOUR SCENARIOS AWAITING IMAMOGLU
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul, was detained as part of the terrorism and organized crime investigations conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. İmamoğlu, who was detained at 06:30 the day before yesterday, is expected to appear before a judge no later than Sunday, March 23, after a 4-day detention period.
Four possibilities stand out regarding İmamoğlu:
- He may be released: In this case, he can continue his duties from where he left off.
- Even if released, he may be removed from office: The Ministry of Interior may decide to remove him from office and appoint a trustee, citing the ongoing investigation.
- He may be arrested on terrorism charges: If he is arrested on charges of "aiding a terrorist organization," the Ministry of Interior may appoint a trustee to Istanbul.
- If arrested on organized crime charges: In this case, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council may elect a new mayor internally, as was the case in Beşiktaş Municipality.
HERE ARE THE 7 CHARGES AGAINST IMAMOGLU AND THE SUSPECTS
- Being a leader of a criminal organization
- Being a member of a criminal organization
- Extortion
- Bribery
- Qualified fraud
- Illegally obtaining personal data
- Interfering with a tender
IMAMOGLU CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN SEIZED
It has been announced that İmamoğlu Construction Trade and Industry Joint Stock Company has been seized as part of the investigation.
The statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is as follows;
"In the investigation file numbered 2024/228233 conducted by our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office;
On 19/03/2025, based on the MASAK reports obtained within the scope of the investigation, the İMAMOGLU CONSTRUCTION TRADE AND INDUSTRY JOINT STOCK COMPANY, in which the suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu is a partner, has been seized by the decision of the peace criminal court upon the request of our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. It is announced to the public…”
Information regarding the company was included in the MASAK report.
According to the findings reflected in the report, it was stated that İmamoğlu Construction, which has 60% of its shares owned by Ekrem İmamoğlu and 40% by his father Hasan İmamoğlu, acquired 117 properties, including 19 shops, 19 residences, 63 apartments, 8 offices, 6 bureaus, and 2 plots of land, between December 8, 2020, and December 11, 2023. It was noted that the source of these properties and the increase in money acquired over three years is uncertain.
According to witness statements taken in the investigation, it was alleged that the chairman of the İBB Council Participation Related Organizations Commission, fugitive suspect Ertan Yıldız, and detained suspect Süleyman Atik threatened the owners of the complainant Capacity AVM by saying, "You have earned enough here for 15 years, give us 5 million euros, otherwise we will get a decision from the municipal council stating that the shopping mall is earthquake-resistant."
It was also mentioned in the witness statements in the investigation that suspect Atik threatened the complainants by saying, "You wouldn't want to confront someone who will be the President in 2 years."
In the investigation, it was claimed that after the bribery offer to the shopping mall owners, the municipality imposed a fine of 197 million lira on the complainants due to their failure to pay.
It was alleged that a report was obtained stating that the shopping mall was not earthquake-resistant, and the Administrative Court issued a stay of execution regarding the fine, while it was claimed that the municipality unlawfully imposed the fine because it could not receive a bribe.
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