Ankara 26th Criminal Court: Prosecutor Seeks Prison for Imamoglu, Acquittal for Tugay

At the eighth hearing of the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress case being tried at Ankara 26th Criminal Court, the prosecutor presented his opinion on the merits on Wednesday, October 21. The prosecutor alleged that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in detention, YENI Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Ozgur Celik, Besiktas Municipality Mayor Riza Akpolat, and six other defendants acted in concert to commit irregularities in order for Ozgur Ozel to be elected as general chairman.

The opinion was prepared within the scope of Article 112 of Law No. 2820, the Political Parties Law. This article, which regulates the crime of fraud in internal party elections, provides for imprisonment from one to three years. The prosecutor also requested the application of the provisions of the Turkish Criminal Code regarding complicity in the offense and deprivation of certain rights.

According to the prosecution's opinion, certain delegates were promised municipal employment, relatives of 24 delegates in 7 provincial and district municipalities were hired, and shopping cards totaling 1.5 million lira were distributed to delegates. Cash money, electronic devices, and requests for photographs of ballot papers, as well as provision of irregular housing through KIPTAS, an IBB affiliate, were also among the allegations.

Emirhan Akcadag, the former chief of staff of Besiktas Municipality Mayor Akpolat who was heard as a witness at the hearing, said that he organized the accommodation of approximately 160 politicians during the congress period and that payments were made under Akpolat's orders; however, he added that he did not personally witness any benefit being provided. Witness Akcadag stated, "I have no direct witness to anything." Delegates Cetin Kizilbulut and Ali Abbas Erturk also stated that no offers were made to them and that they did not witness any irregularities at the congress.

Imamoglu's lawyer Caglar Caglayan objected to the opinion, arguing that it cannot be concluded from the witness accounts that votes were purchased, and stating "There is not even a phone call, but punishment is being sought for providing a phone," and requested time for the defense.

The prosecutor sought acquittal for Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who resigned from the CHP on June 18, 2023, and was given the AKP badge by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 7, as well as Huseyin Yasar and Ozgen Nama, on the grounds that sufficient evidence proving they were complicit in the offense was not found.