Ekrem İmamoğlu Faces Prison Demand in New Case
New Legal Challenge for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu
On March 1, 2026, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, currently detained, is facing a new indictment alleging misuse of office during his tenure as Mayor of Beylikdüzü. The charges center around allegations that İmamoğlu used a vehicle owned by his company as an official mayoral car and had the associated expenses covered by the municipality. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of up to two years in prison, according to reports from Cumhuriyet and Radikal.
The Allegations: A Company Vehicle as Official Transport
The indictment, prepared by the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Special Crimes Investigation Bureau, claims that İmamoğlu improperly authorized the use of a Mercedes Vito (plate number 34 LN 4472) owned by İmamoğlu İnşaat – his construction company – as his official vehicle while serving as Mayor of Beylikdüzü. The prosecution alleges that all maintenance, fuel, and other related costs were then billed to the Beylikdüzü municipality. This action is being framed as “abuse of office.”
Who Else is Charged?
The indictment names twelve individuals as defendants alongside İmamoğlu: Bülent Arslaner, Fatih Keleş, Fatma Hoşgöz Açıkgöz, İlyas Yılmaz, Mehmet Zeki Çanakçi, Mülayim Demirtaş, Nuray Köker, Orhan Yılmaz, Selçuk Altun, Üzeyir Çöl, and Ercan Doğan. The charges against these individuals vary, with some facing accusations of aiding and abetting the alleged misuse of funds. Specifically, Ercan Doğan faces charges of “assisting in the abuse of office” with a potential sentence of three months to one year. Mehmet Zeki Çanakçi is also facing scrutiny due to a prior conviction and potential violations of his supervised release terms.
What’s the Timeline?
The events in question reportedly took place during İmamoğlu’s time as Mayor of Beylikdüzü. According to the indictment, İmamoğlu İnşaat submitted a request to the municipality on February 4, 2015, proposing that the municipality cover the costs of maintaining and operating the Mercedes Vito for use as the Mayor’s official vehicle. This request was reportedly approved by İmamoğlu on February 9, 2015, and subsequently endorsed by the Municipal Council.
Confirmed vs. Unclear
Confirmed: Ekrem İmamoğlu is facing a new indictment related to allegations of misusing municipal funds during his time as Mayor of Beylikdüzü. The indictment seeks a prison sentence of up to two years. Twelve individuals are named as defendants in the case. The allegations involve the use of a company-owned vehicle as an official car and the subsequent billing of expenses to the municipality.
Unclear: Details regarding the specific evidence presented in the indictment beyond the core allegation of vehicle misuse have not been publicly released. The full extent of the other defendants’ alleged involvement remains unclear. The exact date of the upcoming trial has been reported as “in the coming days,” but a specific date was not provided in the available sources.
The Political Context
This new legal challenge comes as İmamoğlu is already detained and running as the CHP’s candidate in the upcoming presidential election. The timing of the indictment has inevitably raised questions about potential political motivations. CHP leader Özgür Özel first announced the opening of this new case during a rally in Burdur, as reported by Ekonomim. The case adds to a series of legal challenges İmamoğlu has faced in recent years, which he and his supporters have characterized as politically motivated attempts to disqualify him from holding office.
What Happens Next?
The indictment has been accepted by the relevant Asliye Ceza (Criminal Court of First Instance). The trial is expected to begin in the coming days. The sources indicate İmamoğlu is scheduled to appear in court on March 9th. The court will then review the evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense, and ultimately determine whether İmamoğlu and the other defendants are guilty of the charges. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for İmamoğlu’s presidential campaign and his political future.
