Turkish prosecutors are seeking a prison term exceeding 2,000 years for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu over allegations he ran a major corruption operation, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek presented an indictment naming more than 400 suspects, with Imamoglu accused of heading a criminal organisation involved in bribery, fraud and rigging public tenders.
The prosecution alleges the network siphoned 160 billion lira ($3.8 billion) from state coffers across a decade.
The 4,000-page document includes what prosecutors describe as an organisational chart placing Imamoglu at the top of the alleged criminal enterprise. Prosecutors cite financial crime investigations, expert testimony and digital evidence, claiming businesspeople were forced to pay bribes through an undisclosed municipal fund.
Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s chief political opponent, has rejected all charges as politically motivated. His Republican People’s Party maintains the prosecution is part of a political campaign against him.
The mayor has been held in custody since March awaiting trial. He received an additional sentence in July for insulting and threatening Istanbul’s chief prosecutor, which he is contesting.
Turkish authorities deny political interference in the case, asserting judicial independence.
Reuters noted it could not verify the allegations independently, and neither Imamoglu’s legal team nor Istanbul municipality representatives had responded to requests for comment.
(information from Reuters)
