Lawyer Ersöz Announces New Development in İBB Case

“WE LEARNED ABOUT IT THROUGH NOTIFICATION”

Attorney Hüseyin Ersöz shared the following information regarding the matter:

“The Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court, which is hearing the case, recently conducted a re-evaluation of the detention status and ruled to continue the detention of all defendants. We learned just now, through a notification, that our objection to this decision was rejected by the Istanbul 41st Heavy Penal Court.”

The court’s general justification for the 105 defendants was that “the nature and severity of the crimes they are accused of, the current state of the evidence, and the fact that the defendants’ statements have not yet been taken mean that the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court’s decision to continue detention is consistent with the file and in accordance with the law and legislation, and the objections are therefore rejected separately.”

“I don’t think any lawyer could reconcile themselves with a decision based on such general and boilerplate reasoning,” Ersöz continued. “People in prison cannot be seen as mere numbers. Everyone needs to engage in a moral reckoning in light of this decision.”

The recent developments come as the investigation into alleged irregularities at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, often referred to as the “İBB Investigation,” continues to unfold. The case has drawn significant attention, particularly given the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the CHP’s presidential candidate and current Mayor of Istanbul.

According to reporting from Cumhuriyet, attorney Ersöz announced on November 10, 2025, that a separation order (“tefrik kararı”) had been issued in the case. This development signaled that an indictment would soon be submitted to the Heavy Penal Court. The separation order involved transferring elements of the original case, file number 2024/228233, to a new investigation, file number 2025/248683.

Similar separation orders were previously issued in the “Beşiktaş Municipality Investigation,” with an indictment following within days, as noted by Ersöz. He also pointed to a recent detention review as another indication that the indictment is imminent.

Ekonomim.com reported that Ersöz characterized the tefrik decision as a sign that the indictment would be prepared “in a short time.”

The investigation centers around allegations of corruption within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Resul Emrah Şahan, the mayor of Şişli, is currently detained in connection with the case, as confirmed by attorney Ersöz in statements to Cumhuriyet. The Cumhuriyet report details that Şahan’s detention stems from allegations of “coercion by force” and membership in an organization established for criminal purposes.

According to reporting from Yandex.com.tr, the tefrik decision suggests the indictment will be presented to the Heavy Criminal Court shortly, though a specific date remains unknown. The report also notes that İmamoğlu has been detained for 232 days as part of the investigation.

The latest decision to uphold the detention of the defendants underscores the ongoing legal challenges facing individuals connected to the İBB investigation, and raises questions about the timeline for a full trial and resolution of the case.