The third celse of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality trial entered its fourth day at the Silivri courtroom complex, with defendants taking the floor to demand their release amid ongoing witness testimony.
The proceedings involve 436 defendants, including 46 who are detained and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The third celse began last Monday with plans to take the statements of 69 complainants, witnesses, and secret witnesses, of whom 47 have been heard so far, including secret witnesses Gürgen and Zeytin.
AŞ witness and complainant testimonies neared completion, the courtroom shifted to procedural demands for release. Among those addressing the court was Mehmet Murat Çalık, removed from his post as Mayor of Beylikdüzü, who stated that he had never been part of any unlawful structure during his life.
Çalık noted, Hakkımda doğrudan suçlayıcı nitelikte bir gizli tanık beyanı yoktur. Aleyhimde beyanlarda bulunanlar ise aynı olayları aynı menfaat tutarında anlatamamışlardır
and requested his release based on concrete evidence.
Ağaç A.Ş. General Manager Ali Sukas’s former chief of staff Murat Or also requested his release, arguing that accusations against him were refuted by witness statements and asserting that his duties involved planning appointments rather than handling money or benefit relations.
Testimonies and Courtroom Proceedings
Earlier in the session, which began at 11:45 with detained individuals brought into the hall amid applause, lawyer Didem Kılıç testified that effective remorse beneficiary Emin Karaçam threatened her, telling her Sana yapacaklarımı görürsün,
and that this hostility extended to İmamoğlu’s detained lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan. Medya A.Ş. employees Tugay Düzgün and Ali Kaan Yurt stated that another effective remorse beneficiary, Recep Taşçı, told colleagues after giving his statement that he was under pressure and had to give it because he had two children.
Complainants Fatih Erdoğan and Abdülkerim Fırat also spoke via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS), confirming their previous statements and requesting to join the case.
Fırat detailed a meeting with İBB Deputy Secretary General Gürkan Akgün regarding project approvals, during which Akgün asked about building a kindergarten for the municipality’s election promises at a cost of 15 million lira per kindergarten, after which Fırat stated, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyemize ben bağışta bulundum. Kreş onayının sözünü verdim, ondan sonra zaten bütün onaylarım geldi.
Earlier Developments in the Trial
The high-profile legal proceedings began with extensive indictments targeting a large group of defendants. In the current third celse, testimony sessions have progressed through multiple witnesses and complainants, including Ümit Gözütok, Muhsin Açık, Ceyhun Avşar, Yiğit Oğuz Duman, Yusef Arslan, and several others who were called by detained and non-detained parties.
Witnesses such as Yusef Arslan detailed construction phases in Bomonti and related payment demands discussed during the proceedings.
Pending Decisions
Bu hafta tanık ve müşteki ifadeleriyle birlikte gizli tanıkların ifadelerinin alınmasının ardından tutuklu isimlerin tahliye talepleri alınmaya başlandı ve Murat Or ile Mehmet Murat Çalık tahliye talebinde bulundu.
