Analysis: What Evidence Underpins the Massive Corruption Indictment Against İmamoğlu?

WISE NEWS PRESS / ISTANBUL, TURKEY — Nov. 12, 2025

The majority of the evidence supporting the charges in the indictment prepared against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu relies on the statements of suspects who cooperated under leniency provisions. The prosecution utilized these statements, along with HTS (Call Detail Record) logs, footage, bank transfers, and official reports, to build its claim of a "non-official decision network" operating within the municipality.

The indictment has not yet been accepted by the court; thus, the accusations remain the prosecution’s claim at this stage.

The Core of the Indictment: Statements and HTS Logs

The fundamental framework of the file is built upon the statements of some suspects regarding the structure they termed the "system." These statements allege that decisions regarding tender processes, project steering, allocation of advertising space, and budget determination for culture and arts in the İBB and its subsidiaries were shaped by a circle operating independently of the official administrative lines. The prosecution equates this narrative with the concept of an "organized structure."

The prosecution claims that 10-15% of the money derived from tenders "secured or directed" or from illicit permits was channeled into this "system." The indictment alleges that billions of Turkish Lira worth of tenders were directed to business people linked to the organizational leaders, often through "shell companies," alongside numerous violations related to zoning and permits.

Examples of Suspect Testimony:

• Suspect Abdullah Uçan: Claimed that Murat Ongun (an alleged executive) exerted pressure to conduct tenders as exceptions, stating that the presidency wanted the process expedited. "Everyone knows these transactions could not have been done without Ekrem İmamoğlu's approval."

• Suspect Adem Kameroğlu: Stated that Fatih Keleş (an alleged executive) told him: "The President sends his regards, you will sponsor the Beylikdüzü Volleyball Team."

The indictment also includes testimony detailing how İmamoğlu allegedly pressured businessmen over the phone. Suspect Dursun Keleş claimed that during a phone call with İmamoğlu (the "Patron"), the Mayor threatened to cancel a project if Keleş did not agree to fund a kindergarten: "I understood that the person on the phone was Ekrem İmamoğlu... and he said, 'If they are not building the kindergarten, I will not let Keleşoğlu do that project.'"

Financial Claims and the 'Money Towers'

The prosecution links the origins of the alleged organization to the "Money Counting" video scandal (also known as "Money Towers"), which surfaced publicly in 2024 but occurred in December 2019. The indictment argues that the money was collected as bribes through municipalities and that "fictitious donation receipts were issued to legitimize the funds collected for bribery."

Alleged Income Streams and Public Damage

1. Cebeci Mine Site Dumping: The indictment identifies the "organization's" main source of income as illegal and unqualified dumping at the Cebeci Mine site. A key piece of evidence is an IBB report finding that unauthorized dumping between 2021-2025 caused 80 billion TL in public damage and over 31 billion TL in lost revenue that should have gone to İSTAÇ.

2. Foreign Loans (Yurtdışı Krediler): The prosecution relies on reports from MASAK and the Treasury Ministry to claim that İBB and İSKİ used foreign loans (14 debt issuances between 2019–2025) contrary to their intended purpose. It alleges that while only 10–15% went to contractors, a large remaining portion was directed to IBB subsidiaries and third-party companies (especially media/advertising), effectively becoming a monetary source for the "system."

Breakdown of the 143 Actions

The indictment lists 143 total actions, encompassing 196 separate criminal charges. The top three alleged crimes are: Bribery (73 counts), Bid Rigging (58 counts), and Public Fraud (31 counts).

The indictment heavily relies on testimonial and relational evidence: Suspect confessions/witness statements and HTS/Cell Tower (BAZ) data constitute approximately 44% of the total evidence base. Financial evidence (MASAK, bank records, auditing reports) makes up about a quarter. Notably, about 40% of the Bribery charges rely only on suspect/witness statements and HTS data, indicating a reliance on narrative and relational ties rather than material evidence to prove the organizational claims.

If the court accepts the file, the reliability of witness testimonies, the link between HTS records and alleged actions, and the technical valuation of the mine damage claims will be the central points of the judicial process.

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