Cumhuriyet reports from Silivri... Day 96 in the IMM case: İmamoğlu is expected to make his defense this week

The IMM trial, with 436 defendants, 53 of whom are detained, including Elected Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, continues on its 96th day, being held in the new courtroom of the Marmara Closed Prison in Silivri.

The second session of the case, where the defense statements of the detained defendants were taken, started on August 17, and 312 out of 325 people have made statements so far.

A total of 21 people will make their defense, including the 9 fugitives in the file and the people included in the file with the additional indictment against Ağaç AŞ.

İMAMOĞLU WILL DEFEND THIS WEEK

Then, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who could not make his defense in the first session on Tuesday or Wednesday, is expected to make his defense and the second session is expected to be completed.

11.55 | THE HEARING HAS STARTED

After the detained defendants and the court panel took their places, IMM Deputy Secretary General Oktay Özel came to the podium for the first defense.

Rejecting the accusations made against him due to his duties during his term as Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ağaç AŞ, Özel said that he did not have any duty or authority in the main tender of the Parks and Gardens Department.

Emphasizing that the direct purchases in question were carried out nine months after the main tender, Özel said, "It is not possible for me to rig the tender, because I am not a tender officer."

Pointing to Ağaç AŞ's internal directive and purchasing procedure, Özel argued that the tender authority in direct purchases within the scope of 3G belongs to the general manager of the company. Stating that the board members were held responsible for all processes of the company in the expert report, but there was no concrete finding showing that he participated in the transactions subject to the accusation, Özel said, "I accept to be accused of a tender in which I was not involved at any stage and direct purchases that are not within my authority and do not qualify as a tender. I demand my acquittal."

After Özel's lawyer's defense, Mustafa Duhan Demir, one of the partners of Damm Construction Industry and Trade Company, came to the podium.