İstanbul mayor faces up to seven years in prison on 'corruption' charges

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The first hearing of the trial against İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and six other defendants on charges of "involvement in corrupt tender practices" took place yesterday at the Büyükçekmece 10th Penal Court of First Instance.

After the defendants and their lawyers presented their defenses against the indictment, the court adjourned the trial until November 30. It ruled that İmamoğlu, who did not attend this hearing, must appear in the next one.

The case revolves around a tender held during İmamoğlu's tenure as the mayor of Beylikdüzü district, where the mayor and other officials are accused of causing a loss to the public.

In December, İmamoğlu was also sentenced to 2 years and 7 months in prison, as well as a 5-year political ban, for insulting members of the Supreme Election Council (YSK). If the decision is upheld by the Court of Cassation, these penalties will also take effect.

İmamoğlu, a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who was elected as İstanbul's mayor in 2019, put an end to the 25-year rule of the ruling AKP and its predecessors in the city. He was also one of the names promised by CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who ran as a presidential candidate in the May elections, to be appointed as deputy president if he won.

Why the case was opened

The indictment accuses the defendants of causing a loss of 250,086 Turkish liras to the public and an additional payment following the "Personnel Employment and Cultural Art Organization Service Procurement Job" tender conducted on December 29, 2015.

The prosecutor's office requested separate prison sentences ranging from 3 to 7 years for İmamoğlu and the other six individuals on charges of "involvement in bid rigging."

The application of Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code, known as the political ban, which entails the deprivation of certain rights, was also requested in the indictment.

Following the hearing, CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Gökhan Günaydın made a statement outside the courthouse, saying that the trial should never have been opened. He said, "We came out of the first hearing of an indictment that should not exist and a trial that should not have taken place."

Photo: Ruken Tuncel/bianet

Providing information about the case, Günaydın said, "In 2015, an investigation was conducted into the allegations of İmamoğlu's involvement in corrupt tender practices during the early years of his tenure as the mayor of Beylikdüzü. The Council of State had annulled the investigation permit because none of the allegations were valid.

"However, starting from 2020, the civil inspectors sent from the Ministry of Interior, under the administration of Süleyman Soylu, transformed this case into a new form. They submitted their memorandum to the prosecutor's office to initiate an investigation. They prepared an indictment, and today we had the first hearing.

"Our colleagues responded to the allegations and stated that 'there is no public loss involved.' However, despite that, a trial that should never have taken place was conducted."

The hearing

The hearing began with the identification process, followed by the defendants presenting their defenses against the allegations stated in the indictment.

Hilal Çuhadar, a member of the tender commission and inspection committee, was the first to speak. She stated that she had spent the last 10 years of her 30-year civil service career at Beylikdüzü Municipality and had not engaged in any unlawful actions.

She said, "I am morally at ease. The signature on the tender decision belongs to me. I do not accept the accusations against me. I reiterate the statements I made with my lawyer. I request my acquittal."

Türkan Demirel Dişisağlam, the head of the tender commission, also stated that the relevant signature belonged to her and said, "You will see that the tender file opening report is proof of work experience. This document will demonstrate that this case is currently baseless."

"When the envelopes were opened, numerous completion certificates and multiple documents were presented. It was noted in the envelope opening report that they were there."

"The bidder has the qualification to participate in and be awarded the tender. The TÜRSAB A certificate is a document pertaining to the period after the contract is signed; it is not a qualification certificate for the tender. I do not accept the accusation against me. I request my acquittal."

Fidan Gül, the tender official who spoke next, stated that when the document confirming that all the documents were complete in the commission's decision arrived, she also signed it and emphasized that the tender was conducted in accordance with the procedure.

Cem Ülken, a member of the tender commission and inspection committee who had been working at Beylikdüzü Municipality for 19 years, denied the allegations and said, "I believe that I have fulfilled my duties properly until now. In my written defense, I provided explanations regarding the issues stated in the indictment, and I have nothing further to add. I do not accept the accusation against me."

Mehmet Hepgül, another member of the tender commission, stated, "Both due to my duty and in the tenders I have participated in, I act in accordance with the law and regulations. I do not accept the accusations against me," and requested his acquittal.

Following the defendants' statements, İmamoğlu's lawyer stated, "We could not have my client present due to a sudden change in his schedule, and I have nothing further to add."

After the lawyers' defense, the court announced an interim decision and ordered İmamoğlu to be present at the next hearing with his lawyer.

The court panel decided to send a memorandum to Beylikdüzü Municipality to determine whether there was any "public loss," and the trial was adjourned until November 30. (RT/VC/VK)