10.03.2026 08:30
The second day of the trial regarding the "corruption" case involving 402 defendants, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, has begun following a tense first hearing. After the events of the first day's hearing, an investigation was launched against CHP leader Özgür Özel, and the hearing will continue today at 10:00 AM. The trial, in which İmamoğlu faces a prison sentence of up to 2,352 years, is expected to last for 45 consecutive days.
The first hearing of the case, in which Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was detained on March 19, 2025, and later removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), is among the defendants, was held on March 9 (yesterday). A total of 402 people are being tried in the case seen at the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court, of which 107 are in custody. The hearing is expected to continue today at 10:00 AM.
IMAMOĞLU FACES UP TO 2,000 YEARS IN PRISON
The 'corruption' investigation against Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and arrested, was completed, and an indictment of 3,809 pages was prepared on November 11, 2025. In the indictment, Ekrem İmamoğlu, mentioned as the 'Organization Leader', is accused of committing crimes including 'Establishing an Organization for the Purpose of Committing Crimes', 'Bribery', 'Money Laundering', 'Fraud to the Detriment of Public Institutions and Organizations', 'Recording Personal Data', 'Seizing and Disseminating Personal Data', 'Concealing Criminal Evidence', 'Obstructing Communication', 'Causing Damage to Public Property', 'Receiving Bribes', 'Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information', 'Extortion', 'Laundering Assets Derived from Crime', 'Interfering with Tenders', 'Deliberately Polluting the Environment', 'Violating the Tax Procedure Law', 'Violating the Forestry Law', and 'Violating the Mining Law'. İmamoğlu is requested to be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 828 years and 2 months to 2,352 years for 142 actions.
TENSION OCCURRED IN THE FIRST HEARING
On the first day of the trial, tense moments occurred in the courtroom. The presiding judge requested the audience to be removed from the hall. However, the process turned into a debate when CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and other party members present in the hall refused to leave.
The panel reversed its decision and allowed the audience to remain in the hall after a meeting with CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik.
AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED AGAINST ÖZGÜR ÖZEL
After the hearing, CHP leader Özgür Özel harshly criticized the court panel. Özel emphasized that the total seniority of the three judges on the panel is 11 years and criticized the scope of the case. Özel stated, "They are showing their inexperience. A person who is supposed to emerge from the world's most complicated indictment, which has a 4,000-page indictment and a request for 2,400 years of punishment, cannot even find the door of the court out of excitement."
Following these statements, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an ex officio investigation against Özel on the grounds of insulting the court panel.
IMAMOĞLU: YOU ARE EVEN AFRAID TO GIVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK
Ekrem İmamoğlu reacted to not being given the floor in the previous hearing. In a statement addressed to the court panel, İmamoğlu requested the right to speak and expressed his criticisms regarding the trial process. İmamoğlu said, "You are even afraid to give the right to speak. You cannot ignore it; starting tomorrow, you will give the right to speak. You are doing a disservice. You are doing a disservice to the esteemed Turkish judiciary."
HEARINGS WILL LAST FOR 45 DAYS
The court panel plans for the first session of the trial to continue uninterrupted for 45 days, excluding weekends and Fridays. Within the program, it is anticipated that hearings will be suspended only on March 20, the first day of Ramadan Feast, due to the open visitation rights of detainees and convicts. It was stated that no definite plan has been made yet for the day of Arife.
According to the court schedule, it is planned for the hearings to start every day at 10:00 AM and continue until 5:00 PM.