In Istanbul, the corruption investigation involving Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from his position as the Mayor of Istanbul after being arrested, continues. The investigation is focused on allegations of being the leader of a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, embezzlement, bribery, fraud, illegal acquisition of personal data, and interference in tenders. New footage from the hotel where Ekrem İmamoğlu went for a meeting and where the cameras were previously shut down has been obtained. In the new footage in the investigation file, it was observed that during the meetings on September 15, 2024, and March 4, the cameras were not turned off this time.
The head of security was asked why the cameras were not turned off in the scope of the investigation. Mustafa Akın, Ekrem İmamoğlu’s head of security, who was among the 45 suspects detained in the operation related to irregularities at İSTAÇ, KİPTAŞ, and Road Maintenance Directorate, was questioned about the footage during his testimony at the police station. Akın was asked why the cameras were not turned off during the meetings Ekrem İmamoğlu held at the hotel in Beşiktaş in July, August, September, October, November, and December of 2024, and why they were turned off on October 8, 2024, October 12, 2024, and March 6, 2025. He was also questioned about who Ekrem İmamoğlu met with at the locations on the dates when the cameras were on and off. Akın replied, “I don’t know why the camera footage was not turned off on those dates, but it may be because there was no security breach in short meetings with the private secretary director at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality or because some meetings did not require confidentiality. As I explained in the previous question, I have no information about the people attending the meetings. The fact that the cameras were not turned off indicates that the job was not done properly.”
Akın was also asked why the cameras were recording on a date when Ekrem İmamoğlu was having a meeting, and who gave the order to record. Akın answered, “The reason why only the camera in front of the meeting room was turned off is to ensure the confidentiality of the meetings of the mayor, as it was a closed meeting to the public. Due to the fact that the private and personal images of the mayor were distributed to media organizations that had no relevance to his privacy from The Marmara Hotel and the venue called Balıkçı Kahraman, we, as colleagues who are responsible for protecting the mayor, decided as a team to turn off only the cameras at the entrance of the meeting room to ensure the confidentiality of the mentioned meetings. In the meantime, we did not engage in any activity that would prevent any communication moment or image from being taken in any other area of the hotel or venue.”
The investigation into the corruption allegations involving Ekrem İmamoğlu and others is ongoing, with new evidence emerging from the hotel where meetings took place. As the case unfolds, more details are expected to come to light, shedding further light on the extent of the alleged crimes and the involvement of the suspects. The questioning of Mustafa Akın, Ekrem İmamoğlu’s head of security, provides insight into the decision-making process behind the camera operations during the meetings, raising questions about the motives and intentions behind these actions. As the investigation progresses, the public awaits more information about the unfolding scandal and its potential impact on the political landscape.
