The chief prosecutor in Istanbul has leveled serious allegations against the city’s popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, accusing him of 142 counts of corruption that could result in a staggering prison sentence of 828 to 2,352 years. Imamoglu, who stands as a significant political opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been held in pre-trial detention since March amidst accusations of corruption.
According to the Istanbul chief prosecutor, Akin Gürlek, Imamoglu is not alone in facing these charges. The investigation has implicated a total of 401 individuals, all alleged to be part of a corrupt network led by the mayor. Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) firmly denies any wrongdoing, asserting that the accusations are politically motivated responses to Erdogan’s diminishing popularity.
Allegations of a vast criminal enterprise
Following an extensive eight-month investigation, Gürlek described the suspects, 105 of whom are currently detained, as having formed a significant criminal organization engaged in bribery and money laundering activities. The prosecutor cited that the Turkish state has incurred financial losses amounting to 160 billion lira (approximately £2.9 billion or $3.8 billion) due to these actions.
Imamoglu, a key figure in the CHP and a candidate for the presidential election in 2028, faces a multitude of charges, including 12 counts of bribery, seven counts of money laundering, and another seven counts of fraud involving public institutions. The Anadolu news agency has suggested that the cumulative prison terms from these charges could exceed 2,430 years.
Political implications and ongoing protests
Imamoglu’s detention has sparked significant public outrage, leading to widespread protests, numerous arrests, and a heavy-handed police response. Since his arrest, he has been confined in Marmara prison, situated on the outskirts of Istanbul. Beyond the corruption allegations, prosecutors have also accused him of various other crimes, including espionage and falsifying his university diploma, a qualification that has since been revoked. These accusations are particularly consequential, as a lack of a university degree would bar him from running for president in 2028.
“This case is not legal, it is entirely political. Its purpose is to stop the CHP… and to block its presidential candidate,” stated CHP leader Özgür Özel, reflecting the sentiments within his party.
Imamoglu, who first attained the mayoralty in 2019 and was re-elected in April 2024 with a decisive margin against the ruling AK Party candidate, has already lodged an appeal against a prior jail sentence of one year and eight months for insulting a prosecutor and another sentence for criticizing election officials.
Recent espionage accusations allege that the mayor provided personal data of Istanbul residents in exchange for international funding. In response, Imamoglu dismissed these espionage claims as “nonsense,” while Özel has accused the authorities of fabricating charges to prevent Imamoglu’s release from jail. “Could he have committed electoral fraud, had a fake diploma, been a thief, a terrorist, and a spy at the same time?” he questioned his fellow party members, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.