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A Turkish court ruled Friday to maintain the detention of Ekrem Imamoglu, the former Istanbul mayor who was removed from office and arrested last year on corruption charges, following a file review of his case.
The decision by the Istanbul court extends Imamoglu's imprisonment as he awaits trial in a sweeping organized crime investigation. The court also ruled to continue the detention of other defendants in the corruption case, according to judicial authorities.
Imamoglu, a prominent member of the main opposition party CHP and widely viewed as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leading political rival, has been in custody since March 2025, when he was arrested alongside 105 others.
The case against Imamoglu has expanded significantly since his initial arrest. In November 2025, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced it had prepared a 3,900-page indictment charging 402 suspects with 143 separate criminal acts.
Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek described Imamoglu as the founder and leader of what authorities have labeled the "Imamoglu criminal organization." The indictment seeks prison sentences ranging from 828 to 2,352 years for the former mayor.
Prosecutors allege the crimes occurred over a decade and resulted in public financial losses totaling 160 billion Turkish lira ($3.79 billion) and $24 million. The charges center on allegations of rigged municipal tenders and illegal property acquisitions during Imamoglu's tenure as mayor.
"How the tender processes were designed is very important. You can see these in the indictment. The correspondence was directly added to the file," Gurlek said during a November press conference announcing the completed investigation.
Authorities identified 95 properties allegedly connected to the case, though officials noted the valuations were not based on current market estimates.
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The announcement of the completed indictment in November triggered immediate market reactions, with Türkiye's benchmark stock index, the BIST 100, dropping 3.57% to an intraday low of 10,400 points.
The investigation has also ensnared other CHP figures. Prosecutors named CHP lawmakers Turan Taskin Ozer and CHP Deputy Chairman Ozgur Karabat as suspects and alleged members of the organization. Case files were sent to Ankara requesting the lifting of parliamentary immunity for both lawmakers.
WhatsApp messages from Beylikduzu Mayor Mehmet Murat Calik, described as a political ally of Imamoglu, were included as evidence in the case. Some messages allegedly contain confessions, according to prosecutors.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office later issued a statement denying media reports that it had requested the closure of the CHP under constitutional provisions. The office clarified that it had only submitted an informational notice to the Court of Cassation's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in accordance with the Political Parties Law, rather than a formal closure request.
Imamoglu was initially detained on March 19, 2025, as part of what authorities described as a wide-ranging probe into a criminal organization involved in fraud and bribery. He faces multiple charges, including leading and being a member of a criminal organization, embezzlement, bribery, aggravated fraud, unlawful acquisition of personal data, and rigging public tenders.
The court ordered his arrest on corruption charges while placing him under judicial control in a separate terrorism-related probe. That investigation allegedly involved municipal hiring practices that recruited individuals with ties to PKK, a designated terrorist organization.
Assets belonging to Imamoglu's contracting company, Imamoglu Insaat, were seized as part of the investigation. Two close associates were also arrested: Murat Ongun, an aide to Imamoglu and chairman of Medya Inc., a municipality-owned company, and Tuncay Yilmaz, general manager of Imamoglu Insaat Company.
In total, 48 suspects were arrested in connection with the initial investigation, with legal proceedings continuing for additional individuals.
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