Istanbul mayor suspended from office
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested as part of a corruption investigation, has been suspended from his post as a temporary measure, the Turkish Interior Ministry said.
Earlier, Imamoglu was arrested by the criminal court as part of a corruption investigation in the Turkish metropolitan municipality, reports AA.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched investigations against Imamoglu and 99 other suspects on charges including leading a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, embezzlement, bribery, serious fraud, illegal appropriation of personal data and manipulation of public tenders.
After their processing at the police station, some suspects were transferred to the Istanbul Caglayan Court, where their criminal proceedings took place. The court decided to arrest Imamoglu.
Murat Ongun, an aide to Imamoglu and the chairman of Medya Inc. -- a company owned by the municipality -- along with Imamoglu Insaat Company CEO Tuncay Yilmaz were also arrested as part of the investigation. Proceedings for the other suspects are still ongoing.
The Interior Ministry also suspended Mehmet Murat Calik and Resul Emrah Sahan, mayors of Istanbul's Beylikduzu and Sisli districts, respectively, as temporary measures.
The ministry said in a statement that Calik was arrested on charges of "extortion" and "being a member of an organization established to commit a crime" based on the decision of the Istanbul 6th Criminal Court.
He added that Sahan was arrested on charges of "aiding an armed terrorist organization" based on the decision of the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, the Istanbul governorship announced that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Beylikduzu Municipal Assemblies have decided to convene on Wednesday to elect incumbent mayors, it reports. KosovaPress.
