Tensions Flare at Silivri: Day 3 of the “IBB Corruption Trial” Begins Amid Judicial Row

The high-stakes judicial proceedings surrounding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) entered their third day on March 11, 2026. The trial, which features 402 defendants—including 107 in custody—is being held at the Marmara Prison Complex in Silivri. Among the high-profile figures appearing is Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former IBB Mayor and current presidential candidate, whose presence has turned the courtroom into a flashpoint for political and legal debate.

Courtroom Confrontation: İmamoğlu’s “Procedural” Ultimatum

The second day of the trial was marked by a sharp verbal exchange between Ekrem İmamoğlu and the presiding judge. Tensions peaked when security personnel attempted to ring-fence İmamoğlu with chairs and a “jandarma circle” to prevent him from approaching the bench.

İmamoğlu vehemently protested the court’s rigid alphabetical order for hearing defenses, arguing that the lack of concrete evidence in the massive indictment requires a more logical approach. In a stern warning to the bench, İmamoğlu stated:

“In a political case where not a single shred of evidence supports the allegations, if you insist on following a simple alphabetical list, you are mismanaging this process. This is my suggestion—the discretion is yours, but you will be the one to pay the price for it, not me.“

Day 3 Highlights: The Defense of Bulut Aydöner

The third day opened with the defense of imprisoned businessman Bulut Aydöner. His testimony focused on dismantling the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness, Serbülend Danış.

Aydöner’s legal team presented bank records showing 5 billion lira in transactions linked to the witness, raising questions about why the prosecution ignored these financial movements while relying solely on Danış’s verbal accusations. “My client was arrested based on a fictional scenario created by a witness who claimed to be in ‘economic distress’ while moving billions,” argued attorney Aysun Okur.

Key developments from the morning session included:

• Allegations of Fabrication: Aydöner denied any involvement in illegal promissory notes, calling the accusations “slanderous lies.”

• Human Rights Concerns: Aydöner revealed he has been moved between cells three times and is currently being held in a ward designated for homicide convicts, despite his white-collar charges.

• Jandarma Intervention: A brief skirmish broke out when security forces attempted to prevent defendants, including Cevat Kaya and Yavuz Saltık, from waving to their families in the gallery. The judge eventually intervened, instructing the jandarma to allow simple gestures like waving.

A Trial of “Political Attrition”

The defense strategy, initiated yesterday by former CHP MP Aykut Erdoğdu, continues to frame the case as a politically motivated attack on the main opposition. With 402 defendants facing charges ranging from tender rigging to money laundering, the trial is expected to last for months. However, the defense insists that the “3,900-page indictment” is built on hollow testimonies that will crumble under cross-examination.