Istanbul Mayor's corruption trial adjourned after courtroom dispute

A hearing in the trial of suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who faces corruption and embezzlement charges, was adjourned, ANKA News Agency reported.

At the 61st hearing in the case, a heated argument broke out between Imamoglu and the presiding judge over the defence schedule. Imamoglu objected to the judge’s decision to change the order in which defence statements would be heard, and to the plan for the first stage of the trial to end on July 9 before all defendants had been heard, CE Report quotes BTA.

Imamoglu argued that other defendants whose defence statements were linked to his had not yet been heard. This prompted a dispute with the judge and increased tension in the courtroom, ANKA said.

The former mayor said the trial cast a negative light on Turkiye and its people, but was being closely followed in the country and abroad and was of great importance. For that reason, he said, the first stage of the trial could not end on July 9.

The presiding judge replied that those not heard by July 9 would be able to give testimony during the second stage of the trial. He then ordered gendarmerie officers to escort Imamoglu and the other defendants out of the courtroom and adjourned the hearing.

Imamoglu’s two lawyers and Suat Ozcagdas, an MP from the Republican People’s Party, of which Imamoglu is a member, were also removed from the courtroom.

The trial of Imamoglu and 441 other defendants began on March 19. A total of 59 defendants in the case are in custody.

The case was initially assigned to the 40th High Criminal Court but was later transferred to the 33rd High Criminal Court with the same presiding judge and panel. A new member was added to the panel, bringing the total number of judges to four, the T24 news website reported.

The trial is being followed mainly by opposition media, opposition lawmakers and non-governmental organizations.

In March, thousands of people rallied in support of the former mayor and marked the first anniversary of Imamoglu's arrest.

Photo: Wikipedia