Journalism of Courage
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, one of Turkey’s most prominent opposition figures, faces a possible prison sentence of more than 2,000 years after prosecutors filed a sweeping indictment accusing him of 142 criminal offences, including corruption, fraud and money laundering.
Imamoglu, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been in jail since March. Prosecutors allege that he led a criminal network responsible for bribery, extortion and bid-rigging that caused losses of about 160 billion lira (roughly $3.8 billion) to the state over a decade, according to Reuters.
The 3,900-page indictment, prepared by Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek, names 402 suspects, including several municipal officials, with Imamoglu listed as the main defendant, Turkish broadcaster Haberturk reported. He is accused of organising a criminal group, 12 counts of bribery, seven counts of money laundering and seven counts of fraud. The prosecutor also holds him accountable for additional offences allegedly committed by others under his administration.
If convicted on all counts, Imamoglu could face a sentence of up to 2,352 years in prison. A trial date will be set once the court formally accepts the indictment, AP reported.
Imamoglu has strongly denied all charges, describing them as politically motivated. “These accusations have no legal or moral basis,” a spokesperson from the CHP said, according to Reuters. The party has called the case an attempt to weaken the opposition following its strong performance in last year’s local elections.
His arrest in March sparked the largest public demonstrations in Turkey in more than a decade, with thousands rallying in Istanbul and other cities to demand his release.
The corruption case is among several legal proceedings against Imamoglu. Last month, prosecutors brought espionage charges against him, alleging that his campaign team transferred personal data of Istanbul residents to secure international funding. He has called those claims “nonsense.”
Other pending cases include allegations of insulting members of the Supreme Election Council, issuing threats against the prosecutor, and falsifying academic and official documents.
The Turkish government denies that the prosecutions are politically driven, saying the judiciary acts independently and that all investigations are based on evidence of corruption or other offences.
