Ekrem İmamoğlu corruption trial faces massive prison sentence claims

Ekrem İmamoğlu corruption trial Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality bribery allegations criminal organization

The corruption and organized crime trial involving Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has reached its 68th hearing. The indictment, spanning over 3,800 pages, accuses İmamoğlu of leading a criminal organization and lists 142 specific actions, including bribery, money laundering, and fraud. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences ranging from 828 to 2,352 years.

During the proceedings, several defendants and witnesses provided testimony regarding alleged bribery schemes. Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek testified that İmamoğlu requested approximately 15 million euros to support his candidacy, claiming 5 million euros were transferred via the 'Hawala' system. HTS and base station records reportedly corroborate that both men were in the same location in Beşiktaş during the alleged meetings.

Other testimonies included claims from businesspeople regarding demands for villas and construction license support. Hamit Demir testified that he was pressured to make an 8 million lira payment to secure licenses, while Mustafa Keleş alleged İmamoğlu requested a villa for the Deniz İstanbul project. Additionally, Aziz İhsan Aktaş, an informant, testified that İmamoğlu used his mayoral office to manage a system for collecting money from businesspeople through various intermediaries.

Entities

Aziz İhsan Aktaş · Cemal Üneş · Ekrem İmamoğlu · Hamit Demir · Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court · Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi · Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality · Marmara Closed Ceza İnfaz Kurumu · Marmara Closed Prison · Mehmet Murat Çalık · Muhittin Böcek · Mustafa Keleş

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Ekrem İmamoğlu denies all allegations of bribery and corruption. www.haberts.com
[DISPUTED] The case involves 414 defendants, with 53 currently in custody. www.haberts.com · www.yenicaggazetesi.com · www.aydinpost.com · anlatilaninotesi.com.tr · beyazgazete.com · +6 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Naim Erol Özgüner denied being a member of a criminal organization. www.dunya.com · anlatilaninotesi.com.tr · www.dikgazete.com · www.haber1.com · www.haberturk.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Defendant Özgür Türkmen admitted to taping hotel cameras once, stating it was not intentional. www.yenicaggazetesi.com · www.ortadogugazetesi.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Cemal Üneş claims Ekrem İmamoğlu requested 500,000 TL in exchange for occupancy permits. www.haberts.com · beyazgazete.com
[● 5 SOURCES] İsmet Koyun denied the possibility of leaking data through the 'İstanbul Senin' application. www.dunya.com · anlatilaninotesi.com.tr · www.dikgazete.com · www.haber1.com · www.haberturk.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Mustafa Keleş claims Ekrem İmamoğlu requested a villa in exchange for zoning permits. www.haberts.com · beyazgazete.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The indictment seeks prison sentences for Ekrem İmamoğlu ranging from 828 years to 2,352 years. www.baskentgazete.com.tr
[● 6 SOURCES] HTS and base station records confirm Böcek and İmamoğlu were at the same location during the alleged meetings. www.turkgun.com · www.benguturk.com · www.aydinlik.com.tr
[● 6 SOURCES] Muhittin Böcek claims 5 million euros were sent via the 'Hawala' system through a currency exchange in Grand Bazaar. www.turkgun.com · www.benguturk.com · www.aydinlik.com.tr
[● 4 SOURCES] Muhittin Böcek claims Ekrem İmamoğlu requested approximately 15 million euros in exchange for supporting his candidacy. www.turkgun.com · www.benguturk.com · www.aydinlik.com.tr
[● 3 SOURCES] Hamit Demir claims he was told to make an 8 million lira payment to receive support for construction licenses. www.yenimesaj.com.tr · www.aksam.com.tr