ISTANBUL (Medyascope) – In a pivotal moment for Turkey’s political landscape, a court has ordered the release of 18 defendants on the 15th day of a massive corruption trial targeting the opposition-run Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).
Despite the releases, the central figure of the case—Istanbul Mayor and leading opposition presidential hopeful Ekrem İmamoğlu—remains in custody alongside other high-ranking officials. The trial, which involves 407 defendants, has become a flashpoint in the power struggle between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government and the opposition.
Of the 107 defendants held in pre-trial detention, 18 were granted bail following a unanimous decision by the court panel. This move went significantly further than the prosecution’s own recommendation, which had only sought the release of seven individuals.
The court justified the releases by citing the “current state of evidence” and noting that the defendants were linked to singular actions rather than a broader conspiracy. Among those released are:
Kadriye Kasapoğlu, private secretary to Mayor İmamoğlu. Prosecutors had argued that Kasapoğlu, in her role, played a facilitating role in an alleged corruption network, was linked to “irregular” municipal tenders, and had involvement or knowledge of an alleged off-record “secret phone” used to bypass official channels.
Prosecutors also alleged that Sırrı Küçük, driver for CHP MP Özgür Karabat, acted as a logistical intermediary, facilitating communication and movements between key individuals.
However, the court denied bail for İmamoğlu and fellow district mayors Resul Emrah Şahan and Mehmet Murat Çalık, who had also been detained in previous municipal operations.
Why municipalities matter
Municipal governments in Turkey hold immense influence and are considered critical for upcoming national elections. Mayors are often more visible to the electorate than national ministers. They control large budgets, oversee essential public services, and award lucrative infrastructure contracts. İmamoğlu himself, having won Istanbul three times, has been positioned as a leading challenger to President Erdoğan’s long tenure in power.
The government alleges that the opposition-controlled İBB became a hub for systemic corruption. Conversely, the opposition claims the government is using the judiciary to “decapitate” its rivals. By detaining hundreds from opposition municipalities, critics argue the ruling party is attempting to paralyze the administrations that serve as the opposition’s primary power base and “proof of concept” for national governance.
The ‘2,000-year’ indictment
The 3,739-page indictment outlines sweeping allegations. Prosecutors have labeled İmamoğlu a “criminal syndicate leader,” seeking a prison sentence ranging from 849 to 2,430 years.
The core of the prosecution’s argument rests on the claim that municipal funds were diverted to:
- Seize control of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) leadership
- Bankroll İmamoğlu’s anticipated presidential campaign
‘It’s a wild goose chase’
Addressing the court, İmamoğlu dismissed the charges as a “political hit job” and a “wild goose chase” for evidence that does not exist. He argued that the indictment was not a legal document but rather “4,000 pages of slander.”
“Justice in this country has hit rock bottom,” İmamoğlu told the bench, citing polls showing public trust in the judiciary has fallen to 15%. “I have lived for my state, and it breaks my heart to see the Turkish legal system used this way. This is a political trial; it will collapse, and justice will eventually set us free.”
He described the ongoing detentions as “persecution,” framing the trial as a historical test for the independence of Turkish courts.
The trial is set to continue as the defense prepares to challenge the complex financial allegations laid out across thousands of pages of evidence. With the 2028 presidential elections on the horizon, the fate of İmamoğlu remains a central variable in Turkish politics.
18 released in Turkey’s pivotal political trial | Translated/edited by Medyascope English Newsroom
