The prosecutor in Istanbul has accused Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of 142 corruption-related offenses that could result in prison sentences ranging between 828 to 2,352 years. Imamoglu, a prominent political opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been in pre-trial detention since March 2023 on corruption suspicions. Both Imamoglu and his party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), deny the allegations and suggest that the government is targeting him amid Erdogan’s waning popularity.
The chief prosecutor has also implicated 401 additional individuals, claiming they were part of a criminal organization led by Imamoglu. Following an eight-month investigation, prosecutors allege that these individuals engaged in bribery and money laundering, resulting in significant financial losses to the Turkish state, estimated at 160 billion lira (approximately £2.9 billion or $3.8 billion).
Imamoglu faces charges that include 12 counts of bribery, seven counts of money laundering, and seven counts of fraud against public institutions. The Anadolu news agency has estimated that if convicted, he could face a total prison sentence of up to 2,430 years. Imamoglu’s detention sparked protests and a police crackdown, and he has been held in Marmara prison since.
In addition to corruption charges, Imamoglu faces accusations of espionage and forgery related to his educational qualifications, which have been annulled. The Turkish authorities have denied claims that the prosecution is politically motivated. Imamoglu’s lack of a valid university diploma would prevent him from running for presidency in the 2028 elections.
The CHP leader, Özgür Özel, described the case against Imamoglu as politically motivated, asserting that it aims to hinder the party’s prospects after its success in previous elections. Imamoglu, elected mayor in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, has initiated appeals against previous convictions for insulting a prosecutor and criticizing election officials. An espionage case launched recently alleges he provided personal data of Istanbul residents for international funding, a claim he has dismissed as unfounded.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6ng120pggo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss