TÜRKİYE ORTA ASYA HABER KKUORDİNATÖRÜ

IFJ - INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS AP.NEWS Prosecutor seeks 2,352-year prison sentence for Istanbul Mayor imprisoned on corruption charges ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has filed a comprehensive indictment against imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, charging him with 142 counts related to corruption and organized crime, and has demanded a total prison sentence exceeding 2,000 years. İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure seen as a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was arrested in March along with several other municipal officials accused of running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, and bid rigging. İmamoğlu has vehemently denied all allegations. Critics view the charges as a politically motivated attempt to weaken the main opposition. İmamoğlu's arrest triggered the largest wave of public demonstrations in Türkiye in over a decade. Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek said the indictment runs to 3,900 pages and names 402 suspects, including İmamoğlu as the prime suspect. According to Gürlek's office, İmamoğlu is being tried on charges of establishing a criminal organization, 12 counts of bribery, seven counts of money laundering, and seven counts of fraud. He is also being held responsible for multiple crimes allegedly committed by others, including bribery, fraud, and bid rigging. A trial date is expected to be set after the court formally accepts the indictment. According to the indictment, if convicted on all charges, he could face a prison sentence of 2,352 years. "This case is not legal; it is entirely political. Its aim is to stop the Republican People's Party (CHP), which came in first in the last elections, and to obstruct the presidential candidate," the party's leader, Özgür Özel, said on TV channel X. "What happened today is a clear judicial interference in democratic politics and the outcome of the upcoming elections." The corruption case is one of several legal proceedings targeting İmamoğlu. Last month, prosecutors filed espionage charges against İmamoğlu in connection with an investigation into his political campaign and a businessman arrested in July on allegations of conducting intelligence activities for foreign governments. İmamoğlu is accused of transferring personal data of Istanbul residents to secure international funding for his campaign. He has called the allegations "nonsense." Other ongoing cases include allegations of insulting members of the Supreme Election Board, threats and insults directed at prosecutor Gürlek, and accusations of forging diplomas and documents. Critics view these cases, along with those filed against other mayors and officials of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), as part of a broader crackdown launched after its strong performance in last year's local elections. Many municipalities run by the party faced a series of arrests throughout the year.