"Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday charged jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu with 142 offenses, meaning that he could potentially face up to 2,532 years in prison if found guilty of all of them. Imamoglu, who has been in jail already for nearly eight months after being arrested and suspended from office in March, is seen as one of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most serious rivals."
"In a nearly 4,000-page indictment, prosecutors drew up a list of offenses ranging from running a criminal organization and bribery to embezzlement, extortion and tender rigging. Imamoglu, from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), is currently in pre-trial detention on corruption charges, as well as serving a separate jail sentence of a year and eight months for allegedly insulting and threatening Istanbul's chief prosecutor. His arrest in March triggered massive protests."
"Among other things, he is also facing espionage charges filed last month, with prosecutors accusing him of passing on personal data of Istanbul residents to gain funding from abroad for his presidential campaign. Prosecutors have also accused him of insulting the chief prosecutor and of forging diploma documents. Critics see the case as part of an effort to sideline him after his party's strong performance in last year's local elections."
Turkish prosecutors charged jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu with 142 offenses that could carry up to 2,532 years if convicted. Imamoglu has been jailed nearly eight months after his March arrest and suspension from office. A nearly 4,000-page indictment lists offenses including running a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement, extortion and tender rigging. He is in pre-trial detention on corruption charges and serving a separate one year, eight month sentence for allegedly insulting and threatening Istanbul’s chief prosecutor. Additional proceedings include espionage allegations over passing residents’ personal data and accusations of forging diploma documents. Critics say the legal actions aim to sideline him, while the government asserts judicial independence and anti-corruption motives.
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