Hearings continue in İBB case, defendants not under arrest present defense

Published 16 Sept, 06:00 Updated 17 Sept, 01:17 Photo: Medyascope

This story is from 16 September 2026.

Latest in the series Yasin Çağatay Seçkin gives defence in İBB trial 8 Oct, 14:49

At the 82nd hearing of the İBB case, defendants not under arrest presented their defense; Babacan denied the bribery allegation and Karakaya denied claims that he had organized the tenders himself. In a separate development, the lawyer for İPA Head Buğra Gökçe requested release, stating that the maximum detention period had expired.

At the hearing, Oktay Aktaş, a defendant released without detention, said the indictment's attribution of tenders to him was a material error, as he had been dismissed before the specified date. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu asked former Deputy Secretary General Karakaya whether it was possible to operate external loans through 50 billion lira in corruption. Karakaya said he had never heard of the concepts of organization and system, which is why he continued working at the municipality.

Hearings continue in İBB case, defendants not under arrest present defense

Where reports differ

Conservative Sabah and Hürriyet highlighted the content of the indictment, reporting that İmamoğlu was portrayed as the "leader of the organization," that an assessment of approximately 160 billion lira in public damages related to 143 acts had been made, and conveyed the sentences sought.

Opposition and Independent Medyascope, Independent Türkçe, BirGün and Yeniçağ highlighted the defendants' denials of the charges and the statement "there is no bribery situation," and also reported on the request for release by Buğra Gökçe's lawyer on grounds that the maximum detention period had expired.

İBB Trial News Series

Where it began 16 Sept 2026 Hearings continue in İBB case, defendants not under arrest present defense

8 Oct 2026 14:49 Yasin Çağatay Seçkin gives defence in İBB trial Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court heard defences on the 95th day of the İBB trial, in which 436 defendants, 53 of them in detention, are being tried. The court moved to the defence of former Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) bureaucrat Yasin Çağatay Seçkin.
7 Oct 2026 12:32 Erhan Karaal defends himself on 94th day of İBB trial Defendant Erhan Karaal presented his defence on the 94th day of the İBB trial at the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court. Karaal said his role in the Digital Experience Center tenders was limited to financial control.
6 Oct 2026 12:07 Day 93 begins in Istanbul municipality trial Day 93 of the 436-defendant IBB case, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, with 53 in pretrial detention, began with defenses by defendants not in custody.
5 Oct 2026 10:43 İmamoğlu expected to testify at 92nd hearing in İBB trial In the İBB case, 27 defendants without detention remain to testify at the 92nd hearing. After 29 people added through a supplementary indictment are heard, Ekrem İmamoğlu is expected to present his defense.