Turkish mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu acquitted as Istanbul mayoral trial continues

Aydın Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Özlem Çerçioğlu was found not guilty of bid‑rigging, abuse of office and related charges by the Aydın 4th Heavy Penal Court, ending her long‑running legal saga. The court did, however, convict several co‑defendants, sentencing Erkan Karaaslan to up to five years in prison and Ozan Çavuşoğlu to six months and seven days.

Meanwhile, the Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediye (İBB) case entered its 49th hearing. The trial, involving 110 detained defendants including İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, saw defense statements from former officials and businesspeople. The court plans a detention‑review hearing on 18 June, and one defendant, Elif Güven, withdrew her plea of “effective remorse.” The proceedings continue to draw national attention to alleged corruption in municipal procurement.