Imamoglu Trial Begins in Silivri

The first hearing in the case concerning the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, with Ekrem Imamoglu as the defendant, begins today, Monday, March 9, in Silivri. Imamoglu has been removed from his duties.

According to Turkish media, a total of 402 defendants are referred to the trial, with 105 or 106 of them being held in pre-trial detention. The investigation began on March 19, 2025.

Imamoglu is described as the 'founder and leader' of an organization, facing charges such as bribery, bid rigging, money laundering, establishing an organization, and fraud.

Reports mention 143 individual acts and damage to the public estimated at 160 billion Turkish Lira and 24 million dollars. A prison sentence ranging from 828 years and 2 months to 2,352 years is sought for Imamoglu.

The process begins with the verification of the defendants' details, the reading of the indictment, and the taking of initial statements. Increased security measures have been taken at the Silivri courthouse.