It’s published update
Istanbul’s imprisoned opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoguru and his legal team boycotted the court hearing on Thursday after alleging that the late changes to the venue of the lawsuit were “illegal.”
The case is one of many criminal allegations facing Imamoguru, exceeding the comments made by the mayor of Istanbul to expert witnesses regarding the prosecution of other officials from his Republican People’s Party or CHP.
In a statement, the CHP said neither Imamoguru nor his legal team would attend the hearing on Thursday due to changes in venues through “illegal procedures.”
In mail from the prison, Imamoguru described the hearing as “irregular” and said, “I am not following the principles of trial. I will not attend this hearing as I refuse to be part of such a process.”
CHP Istanbul State Speaker Ozgul Serick posted that the mayoral hearing had been moved from Kagrayan Court in central Istanbul to Silibri Prison (where Imamogul is held) to western Istanbul just 24 hours ago.
Prosecutors called for a prison sentence of two to four years and a political ban on charges that they “try to influence” expert witnesses in the case. The hearing was postponed to September 26th.
Imamoguru, along with other prominent politicians, was arrested almost three months ago. His home was attacked early in the morning on March 19th as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and links to terrorist groups.
His arrest sparked weeks of nationwide protests calling for his release. Protesters believe Imamoguru, who many consider President Receptacle Tayip Erdogan’s main political rival in the upcoming presidential election, has been arrested for political reasons.
Protests that have become often violent have led to hundreds of arrests, many of whom are on trial to “incite violence.” The demonstration was the biggest turkey has seen in over a decade.
The convictions faced by Imamoguru can be seen as banned by the mayor of Istanbul from holding or running for public office.
Additional sources •AP
