Former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faces serious allegations of fraud in obtaining a diploma that could endanger his political career and the planned presidential candidacy.
The dismissed Mayor of Imamogl, Mayor of Imamoglu, came to the courtroom of the prison on Friday in connection with the allegations of which he received his university degree in fraud. According to the AP report, TASR reports this.
The former mayor in the courtroom in Silivri west of Istanbul was welcomed by applause and ovations. According to media reports, the hearing was also attended by image relatives, friends, high -ranking opposition politicians or former university classmates. The prosecutor’s office asks for a term of imprisonment of 2.5 to 8.75 years and a prohibition of political activities for alleged falsification of official documents.
SPOR O DIPLOM
The University of Istanbul in March annulled the validity of the Imamogl diploma on the grounds that in 1990 there were alleged discrepancies during its transfer from a private university in the north of Cyprus. In Turkey, higher education is a prerequisite for a person to apply for a presidential post, AP recalls.
Subsequently, the mayor was arrested on the basis of charges of corruption and for alleged ties to terrorists, which caused the largest street protests in Turkey over the past ten years. The police detained nearly 70 persons, including the Imamogl Secretary and a member of the Personal Security, in connection with alleged corruption in the Istanbul City Hall.
Political candidacy threatened
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) nominated Imamogl as its candidate in the presidential election, which will be held in 2028. The former mayor is the main political rival of 22 years of ruling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, recalls AP.
In addition to the case with a diploma, they also lead at least seven other criminal prosecutions against Imamogl. CHP claims that these accusations are part of the government offensive aimed at disposing of the opposition and ensuring the function for Erdogan. The government denies these claims and emphasizes that the Turkish courts are independent.
