The 65th hearing of the corruption trial involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) took place on March 9, 2026, marked by the removal of Ekrem İmamoğlu from the courtroom. İmamoğlu was escorted out by order of the presiding judge following a dispute over trial scheduling and the defendant’s refusal to undergo formal identity verification and enter a plea.
Courtroom Tensions and Removal
Ekrem İmamoğlu, who arrived at the courtroom at 14:23, challenged the court’s timeline, specifically the intention to conclude the proceedings by July 9. İmamoğlu argued that he had been prevented from attending previous sessions and stated, “I came to the podium to voice my own observations, demands, and objections.” He claimed he was experiencing a “serious violation of rights” by not being able to hear the testimony of his co-defendants, specifically citing Fatih Keleş.
The presiding judge maintained that the schedule was established at the start of the four-month-long trial and would not be altered. When İmamoğlu refused to proceed with identity verification and insisted on questioning the court’s process, the judge warned that he would be removed if he did not provide his defense. Following İmamoğlu’s statement, “I did not come to make a defense, I came to judge,” the judge cited Article 203 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) and ordered his removal from the hall.
Did You Know? The court formally recorded that Ekrem İmamoğlu had utilized his “right to remain silent” after he repeatedly refused to provide identity information or enter a defense, leading the court to retrieve his details via the UYAP system.
Legal Consequences and Ongoing Sorterings
Following the courtroom altercation, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an ex officio investigation into İmamoğlu for “threatening a public official” based on his remarks regarding his intent to “judge” the authors of the indictment. Simultaneously, the court continued to address the status of other defendants in the case.
The prosecution requested the release of three individuals: suspended Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, organizer Ceyda Kıryak, and İBB Press and Public Relations Department Head Serap Karay. This followed the earlier release of 51 other defendants in previous sessions, including various municipal staff, advisors, and business associates such as Kadriye Kasapoğlu, Murat Ongun’’s driver Kadir Öztürk, and Fatih Özçelik.
Expert Insight: The procedural friction between the court and the defense highlights the challenges of managing a complex case involving 142 distinct alleged actions.
What Happens Next?
With the court having set a deadline of July 9 for the conclusion of the trial, the proceedings are expected to move forward with or without the active participation of the primary defendants. The court has already established that it will not deviate from its current calendar. A possible next step involves the court moving to evaluate the final evidence and potential sentencing arguments, as the prosecution has already requested prison terms ranging from 828 years to thousands of years for İmamoğlu and up to 779 years for Murat Ongun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Ekrem İmamoğlu removed from the courtroom?
The presiding judge ordered his removal after İmamoğlu refused to undergo identity verification, declined to enter a defense, and engaged in a verbal dispute, stating he had come to “judge” rather than be judged.
What is the current status of the other defendants?
The court has previously released 51 defendants, and the prosecution has recently requested the release of three additional individuals: İnan Güney, Ceyda Kıryak, and Serap Karay.
What charges does Ekrem İmamoğlu face?
The voluminous indictment accuses İmamoğlu of multiple crimes, including “founding an organization for the purpose of committing a crime,” “bribery,” “laundering of crime proceeds,” and “fraud to the detriment of public institutions,” among others.
How will the court’s decision to maintain its July 9 deadline impact the legal arguments of the remaining defendants?
