Ekrem İmamoğlu challenges prison sentence amid İBB bribery allegations

Ekrem İmamoğlu Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality bribery investigation public tender fraud judicial independence

In Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, has reacted strongly to a court sentence of 2 years and 1 month in prison and a potential political ban regarding the Tuzla case. İmamoğlu claims the judicial process is politically motivated, noting that the judge who previously acquitted him was replaced by a new judge who disregarded the prior acquittal. He asserts that the retrial was based on procedural issues rather than the merits of the case.

Simultaneously, during the 'İmamoğlu Çıkar Amaçlı Suç Örgütü' trial, businessmen have provided testimony regarding bribery involving Ağaç AŞ, an Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality subsidiary. Fikret Baydemir testified that Ali Sukas, the General Manager of Ağaç AŞ, demanded 1 million TL in exchange for settling a 7 million TL debt. Another businessman, Bünyamin Durukan, testified to paying 15,000 USD in cash to procurement manager Ümit Polat to secure outstanding payments.

In Kilis, a separate investigation into public tender fraud at the Kilis Special Provincial Administration has led to the detention of three suspects, including the General Secretary. The probe investigates allegations of bribery, embezzlement, and the manipulation of tenders for a school construction project. Authorities are also investigating claims of witness intimidation and the unauthorized removal of institutional property.

Entities

Ağaç AŞ · Bünyamin Durukan · Ekrem İmamoğlu · Fikret Baydemir · HASBER İnşaat · Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality · Kilis Special Provincial Administration · Serbülent Danış

Claims

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

[● 2 SOURCES] Businessman Fikret Baydemir testified that Ali Sukas demanded 1 million TL in exchange for paying a 7 million TL debt owed by Ağaç AŞ. www.takvim.com.tr · www.yenisafak.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Ekrem İmamoğlu claims the Tuzla court case is evidence of political interference in the judiciary. www.gazetepencere.com · noktahaberyorum.com · www.karar.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Authorities detained three suspects in Kilis regarding a public tender investigation involving allegations of bribery and embezzlement. www.son.tv · www.haber7.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Police conducted simultaneous searches at six addresses in Kilis during the tender investigation. www.son.tv · www.haber7.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The investigation in Kilis includes allegations of pressure and threats against a witness to change their testimony. www.son.tv · www.haber7.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Businessman Bünyamin Durukan testified that he paid 15,000 USD in cash to Ağaç AŞ procurement manager Ümit Polat to collect receivables. www.yenisafak.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Imamoğlu alleges the judge who previously acquitted him was replaced by a new judge who ignored the acquittal. www.gazetepencere.com · noktahaberyorum.com · www.karar.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The court sentenced Ekrem İmamoğlu to 2 years and 1 month in prison. www.gazetepencere.com · noktahaberyorum.com · www.karar.com