PodcastIstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu faces up to 4 years in prison, political ban in expert witness case
A Turkish prosecutor’s office has sought up to four years in prison and a political ban for main opposition’s Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu over “attempting to influence an expert witness.” İmamoğlu argued that the same expert has been assigned to the politically motivated investigations into CHP-run municipalities in Istanbul, filing expert reports against them.
Duvar English
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been facing up to four years in prison and a political ban in the investigation launched against him for his remarks involving an expert witness with the initials of S.B.
İmamoğlu said in a press conference held on Jan. 27 that a judicial expert witness, S.B., has been assigned to politically motivated investigations into opposition CHP-led municipalities, filing expert reports against them in the lawsuits.
He was a key figure in the string of lawsuits that resulted in the arrests of CHP Istanbul district mayors Rıza Akpolat and Ahmet Özer.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office immediately launched an investigation into İmamoğlu after his press conference.
Now, they completed the indictment in the investigation. The indictment demanded two to four years in prison and a political ban for İmamoğlu over “attempting to influence a judicial officer, expert or witness.”
İmamoğlu is facing a new wave of judicial investigations, which might end up in a political ban, as he is regarded as one of the biggest rivals of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
He is also expected to be named as the CHP's presidential candidate following the party primary to be held in late March.
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