istanbul
Reuters
—
Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday sought a sentence of more than 2,000 years in prison for jailed opposition Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on suspicion of leading a massive corruption network that cost the state billions of liras, according to an indictment seen by Reuters.
Imammoğlu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival, has previously denied all charges against him as politically motivated, and his party on Tuesday rejected the latest charges as “nonsense”.
In another move to further intensify an unprecedented year-long legal crackdown on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s critics, the Istanbul prosecutor’s office asked the High Court to consider shutting down Imammoğlu’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Glurek announced the indictment at a press conference, naming 402 suspects, including the mayor, and charging them with forming a criminal organization, bribery, fraud and collusion.
Gurek said the network had cost the Turkish state 160 billion liras ($3.8 billion) over 10 years.
The more than 4,000-page indictment includes an organizational chart depicting Mr. Imamoğlu as the founder and leader of the criminal group.
Citing the findings of the Financial Crimes Investigation Committee (MASAK), expert analysis, and digital and video evidence, the report alleges that several businessmen were forced to pay bribes through secret funds operating within the municipality.
Reuters could not independently verify the allegations beyond those in the indictment.
CHP Istanbul leader Ozgur Çelik told the X program that the charges were “nonsense” and “shameful”, adding that they were aimed at dashing Imamoglu’s hopes of becoming Turkey’s president.
Istanbul City and Imamoglu’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
In a notice to the Court of Cassation asking it to consider shutting down the CHP, prosecutors argued that the party was funded through illegal funds and that its transactions amounted to “prohibited activities.”
Imamoglu has been in prison since March pending trial on corruption charges, and received another prison sentence in July for insulting and threatening the city’s chief prosecutor, a sentence he is appealing.
The government rejects claims by Imamoglu and the People’s Party that the case against him is political and says Turkey’s courts are independent.
