IBB Indictment Completed After 8 Months
A major development has emerged in the long-anticipated “IBB investigation.” Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek confirmed during a press briefing that the indictment related to the alleged corruption case involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has been finalized and submitted to the 40th High Criminal Court.
The indictment, which reportedly spans 3,900 pages, includes 402 suspects and 143 separate acts. It claims that public institutions suffered losses amounting to 160 billion Turkish lira, 24 million dollars, and 95 properties between 2014 and today.
Gürlek stated, “The organizational structure of the criminal network is detailed in the indictment. There are six organization leaders, with Ekrem İmamoğlu identified as the head. The court should proceed with a swift trial process.”
Details from the Indictment: Allegations and Names Included
The indictment alleges that the organization was first formed during İmamoğlu’s tenure as Beylikdüzü Mayor in 2015, before expanding within the IBB administration. Alongside İmamoğlu, names such as Fatih Keleş, Murat Ongun, Adem Soytekin, Murat Gülbrahimoğlu, Ertan Yıldırım, and Hüseyin Gün are listed as senior figures within the alleged network.
The prosecutor’s office accuses İmamoğlu of establishing and leading a profit-driven criminal organization, requesting sentencing under Articles 220/1 and 220/5 of the Turkish Penal Code. The total punishment sought amounts to 2,352 years in prison.
The document also mentions that 76 suspects benefited from effective remorse provisions, providing information about the alleged organization’s structure and activities.
Claims of Bribery and Misuse of Power
According to the indictment, members of the alleged organization manipulated municipal tenders, engaged in bribery, and unlawfully profited from public contracts. Prosecutors assert that “acts of misconduct were carried out openly and fearlessly,” attributing this to what they called a ‘power intoxication’ within the İmamoğlu network.
One section of the indictment reads:
“These clear irregularities during the tender processes demonstrate a strong belief, loyalty, and determination toward a particular goal. Such blatant acts reveal the power intoxication experienced by the Ekrem İmamoğlu criminal organization.”
Lawyers and Politicians Also Named
The indictment includes lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, identified as İmamoğlu’s legal counsel, alleging that he abused his position to relay orders to imprisoned suspects, discourage cooperation, and coordinate escape plans abroad.
It also references two sitting MPs, Özgür Karabat and Turan Taşkın, whose files will be handled separately due to parliamentary immunity.
Gürlek added that Adem Soytekin, one of the suspects, was re-arrested after allegedly withholding information despite previously cooperating.
Public Reaction and Political Impact
The 8-month investigation and its extensive 3,900-page indictment have sparked intense debate across political and legal circles. Earlier in the day, a pro-government newspaper described the case as the “indictment of the century.” Critics, however, question both the scope and timing of the charges.
All eyes are now on the 40th High Criminal Court, which will decide whether to accept the indictment and begin what could become one of Turkey’s most politically charged trials in recent years.
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