IBB trial begins: Imamoglu faces judge one year after arrest

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ISTANBUL, TURKEY — The highly anticipated "IBB trial," involving over 400 defendants including the arrested Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor and Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, commenced today at the Silivri prison campus.

The proceedings begin nearly a year after Imamoglu’s arrest on March 23, 2025, which coincided with the exact day he was announced as the CHP's official presidential candidate. The trial, marked by massive case files and unprecedented prison sentence requests, is viewed by legal experts and the political opposition as a deeply political move designed to eliminate a key rival ahead of the elections.

Indictment details and record sentence demands

The indictment, prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, took a staggering 237 days to complete. It was a full 351 days before the IBB Mayor was finally brought before a judge. The maximum trial duration outlined in the indictment is set at an extensive 4,600 days.

Accepted by the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court, the 3,700-page document accuses Ekrem Imamoglu of being the "founder and leader of an organization allegedly established for the purpose of corruption." The prosecution has leveled 142 separate charges against Imamoglu, demanding a prison sentence ranging from 849 years up to a staggering 2,430 years and six months.

Early in the investigation, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted at the expansive nature of the probe, stating: "They know very well that the biggest radishes are still in the saddlebag. That is the reason for their panic."

Security measures and courtroom restrictions

The trial is taking place in the 1st hearing room located within the Marmara Closed Prison campus in Silivri. Although a larger courtroom is currently under construction, it was not completed in time, forcing the court to proceed in the existing, smaller facility.

Due to strict capacity limits, the court panel has severely restricted attendance. Only a limited number of journalists are permitted inside, and each defendant is allowed a maximum of three defense attorneys. Priority seating for spectators has been exclusively reserved for the first-degree relatives of the defendants. Furthermore, as a strict security protocol, all forms of public meetings, protests, and demonstrations have been banned around the prison campus for the duration of the trial days.

Secret witnesses and sequential legal battles

A central point of contention in the case is the prosecution's heavy reliance on "secret witnesses." Testimonies from individuals identified only by code names form the foundational pillars of the indictment's claims.

The CHP administration, however, argues that the case is collapsing, pointing out that several secret witnesses have already retracted their statements. Additionally, reports indicate that certain defendants who benefited from "effective remorse" laws provided testimonies during the investigation phase and were subsequently released.

Since his initial election in 2019, Ekrem Imamoglu has been the target of multiple legal offensives. This includes the infamous "fool case," where he was sentenced to 2 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison for allegedly insulting members of the Supreme Election Council—a verdict currently under appeal. He also faces lawsuits concerning the validity of his university diploma, a legal prerequisite for presidential candidacy in Turkey.

In late October, Imamoglu was handed another arrest warrant under a separate "espionage" investigation, which has also resulted in the arrest of his defense attorneys and close colleagues. Furthermore, a strict ban has been placed on the social media accounts of the CHP presidential candidate.

Heavy security protocols and protest bans are enforced around the Silivri prison campus as the IBB trial commences.

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