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Ertan Yildiz, a top advisor to former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and former Chair of the IMM City Council’s Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities Commission, has been released under house arrest after giving a second statement as part of a major corruption investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
Yildiz was arrested earlier in the month on charges related to leading or participating in a criminal organization, bribery, fraud, bid rigging, misuse of personal data, and embezzlement. The investigation, launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, also names Imamoglu as a suspect, though formal charges have not been filed against him.
Following his initial detention, Yildiz provided further testimony under Turkiye’s effective remorse statute. According to prosecutors, his second statement offered substantial insight into the alleged criminal network’s internal operations.
"The suspect gave sincere testimony under Article 221/4 of the Turkish Penal Code," the prosecutor’s office said. "His statements contributed to clarifying the organization’s structure and activities, and have been substantiated through follow-up investigations."
As a result, the court approved a request to release Yildiz on the condition of house arrest, prohibiting him from leaving his residence.
Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading figure in the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was recently suspended from his official duties as part of the ongoing investigation.
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