Today is the day of reckoning from the IMM case, in which the 161 billion public loss, the corruption of the century, and bribery and corruption in 143 actions were described. The trial of 407 defendants, 107 of whom are detained, including the leader of the organization, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is requested to be imprisoned for up to 2,352 years, continues on its second day. Ekrem İmamoğlu, who made a podium provocation on the first day, had a chair crisis today. İmamoğlu, who refused to sit in the place designated for him, prevented the establishment of order at the hearing.

“THERE IS NO PROSECUTION”

After the summary of the indictment, Ekrem İmamoğlu took the floor. İmamoğlu, who said that he would make a request but targeted him by making a defensive speech, said, “There is an prosecution, but in my opinion it does not exist. In my opinion, he is guilty. Saying that you do not listen to Ekrem İmamoğlu will create problems for you. I have no intention of holding a rally like those who held a rally inside the mosque. The clear attitude that has been taken since the beginning of the indictment is to take over Türkiye, to take over the CHP, that is, the essence of the issue is political.” he said.

HE TARGETED AKIN GÜRLEK

İmamoğlu, who was warned not to defend himself and only to make a request, was targeted this time by the Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek. İmamoğlu said, “After taking office, the chief prosecutor’s intention is clear. If you succeed in that job, the person who is said to be a minister has become a minister, so this job is political. You will pay the price, not me.” He threatened the court by saying:

Today is the day of reckoning from the IMM case, in which the 161 billion public loss, the corruption of the century, and bribery and corruption in 143 actions were described. The trial of 407 defendants, 107 of whom are detained, including the leader of the organization, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is requested to be imprisoned for up to 2,352 years, started yesterday. Yesterday, on the first day of the case, Ekrem İmamoğlu came to the podium without being given the right to speak, and caused tension because he did not take his seat despite warnings.

THE SCENARIO DID NOT CHANGE ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE CASE

The leader of the organization, İmamoğlu, attempted to sabotage the hearing on the second day of the trial, before it even started. İmamoğlu refused to sit in the chair designated for him and sat on the corridor chair at the level of the gendarmerie. The presiding judge asked: “Why do you insist on causing trouble?” He reacted to İmamoğlu by saying.

DRONE IMAGES SHOW THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR IMAMOGLU

While İmamoğlu continued to create tension inside, drone cameras filming over the region revealed a different view. In the images, it was seen that the streets and avenues around Silivri Penal Institutions Campus were largely empty. It was noted that there was no crowded support group around the prison, only security forces and a limited number of officers.

The General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly convened with the agenda of the US/Israel-Iran War…

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Numan Kurtulmuş, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan will inform the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey about the developments following the attacks of the USA and Israel against Iran.

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, made the opening speech at the General Assembly. The highlights of Numan Kurtulmuş’s statements are as follows:

“CIVILIANS PAY THE HEAVIEST PRICE”

The developments cannot be considered as a temporary crisis.

The developments experienced today can never be considered as a temporary crisis. The international system has entered a process of severe disintegration. In such times, the heaviest price is paid by civilians, as always. The current table should be evaluated as a whole, not in parts. It is a conscientious responsibility to speak up in such periods.

“OUR GAZI ASSEMBLY CANNOT BE THIRTY AT SUCH TIMES”

An ordinary military operation exceeded security measures to an inexplicable extent. There is no difference between the suffering in Gaza and Iran. Silence is the shelter of oppression. The Republic of Türkiye cannot remain silent in such times. Our Gazi Parliament cannot remain silent in such times. The international system is in a process of severe disintegration. It will be inevitable to experience new ruptures in many areas, from energy security to trade routes and migration movements. The growth of the fire draws in those who watch it from afar. It is a must for everyone today to stop the attacks immediately. It is necessary to evaluate Türkiye’s diplomatic traffic within this framework. We neither surrender to the language of war nor retreat into the comfort of silence. We defend peace without giving up on justice and regional stability without ignoring oppression.

While we make the most advanced efforts for peace, we have the power, will, wisdom and experience to not hesitate regarding our security, the security of our borders and the peace of our nation. Here I would especially like to express that; Any earthquake experienced in our region will never be allowed to be transformed into a new ground of instability by terrorist organizations and proxy elements, and the ‘Terror-Free Türkiye’ process will never be allowed to be disrupted.

IMM TRANSFERRED TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION DATA TO THE USA

After these statements targeting Türkiye’s engineers working in the defense industry, soldiers and government officials in critical positions, all eyes turned to the “Istanbul Transportation and Traffic Center of Excellence” agreement signed on September 22, 2020 between the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and the USA for a grant of 5.1 million dollars. The then President of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was in prison for allegedly establishing a Criminal Organization for Profitable Purposes, signed the agreement on the management of Istanbul’s transportation data with the US Ambassador to Turkey at the time, David Satterfield, and announced the project to the public as a major technology move.

Within the scope of the agreement, it was announced that the software infrastructure of the US-based technology company SAS Institute would be used to analyze Istanbul’s traffic and transportation data. Within the data transferred to the USA, personal and strategic information such as citizens’ movements, pedestrian and vehicle routes, vehicle license plates, which Wi-Fi networks people connect to, which subway stations they use, and their stop and route preferences can be tracked instantly.

ALL DATA OF ISTANBUL IS IN THE USA

Analyzing traffic cameras, license plate recognition systems and transportation data of Istanbul, a city of 16 million people, through a foreign technology infrastructure has brought about a serious security debate for Türkiye. Through these systems, comprehensive data on vehicle movements in the city, license plate data and public transportation usage can be collected. Data such as what time a person leaves home, which routes they use, which metro stations they prefer and in which areas they are in the city can be analyzed through such systems.

SECURITY RISK FOR NAMES IN CRITICAL TASKS

It is known that these data collected through urban transportation and traffic systems can reveal not only traffic flow but also detailed movement information about people’s daily lives. This situation is of great importance, especially for people working in critical institutions of the state.

The possibility of monitoring the daily movements of people working in the army, police, intelligence and defense industry through city infrastructures is seen as a serious issue for Türkiye’s security. It is stated that the daily lives of critical officers working in the military, police, intelligence and high technology companies are monitored and recorded in this way. Sensitive information of these people, such as their commute to work, leaving home times, meal and tea breaks, sports and walking routines, is also instantly controlled by the USA.

RUBIN’S WORDS REMINDERED THE AGREEMENT

This was exactly the point that Rubin pointed out in his statements directly targeting Türkiye. Using harsh expressions towards Türkiye, Rubin openly targeted defense industry employees and government officials in Türkiye, saying that people monitored via traffic cameras could be targeted within minutes in the event of a conflict. While Türkiye’s successes in the defense industry in recent years and domestic technology moves continue to disturb some circles, Rubin’s words were considered a clear expression of this discomfort. While Rubin’s words targeting Türkiye brought the issue of processing Istanbul’s transportation and traffic data through foreign technology infrastructures to the agenda again, İmamoğlu’s offer of control of such critical systems to the USA in terms of Türkiye’s data sovereignty and national security caused a reaction once again.

Lawyer Cavit Orhan, who was a CHP candidate for Buca mayor in the 2004 local elections in Izmir, opened his mouth and closed his eyes. In his social media post for his party, CHP member Cavit Orhan wrote, “I will give you in. I think those before me could not explain it well. Those who talk about everything on our side and knowingly support these thieves for one reason or another, with the expectation of a job or food. Shame on you too. Stay hungry. Staying hungry is better than supporting dishonesty. Wait thieves of Buca, we are starting.” In his post, CHP member Buca Cavit Orhan wrote Orhan pointed to Üzümkent and Kızılçullu companies and said, “You will be surprised. If there are any, the old ones are canceled. I am not like those poor people who have razor blades. I am here. Do not threaten anyone.”

Do not beat. “Come, I am responsible from now on,” he said. Cavit Orhan: “Murat Işık!.. Didn’t you call us and tell us that these men were corrupt and had fake direct procurement businesses? Didn’t you bring the tax certificates of those companies? What happened that you compromised with them? Why did you swear your candidacy at 1.5 in the afternoon and raise someone else’s hand 5 hours later? Why are you the general manager of the men you call thieves? Everything is witnessed and proven. Here we go. Oh, and you also told us about Altun İnşaat. “I remember now,” he said to us.

DID YOU HAVE A LOTTERY TO GET THIS RICH?

In his post, CAVIT Orhan also made serious accusations against Murat Işık, the head of the Kızılçullu Development Company of Buca Municipality, and Barış Özreçber, the head of the Üzümkent company. While Murat Işık and Barış Özreçber, who were the Deputy Mayors of Buca Municipality in the past, maintained their silence regarding the accusations against them, Orhan included the following statements in his post: “Baris is the manager of the tables. Then did the lottery happen to you and you became so rich…”

The trial of 407 defendants, 107 of whom are detained, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, has begun in the case that allegedly caused 161 billion liras of public damage within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and involved bribery and corruption in 143 actions. The hearing of the case, in which a prison sentence of up to 2,352 years was requested for former mayor İmamoğlu, was held by the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court in the hall opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution. Before the hearing, gendarmerie teams carried out security checks in the hall and its surroundings.

HE DID NOT LISTEN TO THE WARNING

Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, former CHP Deputy Aykut Erdoğdu, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor’s Advisor and Medya A.Ş., who were suspended from duty along with Ekrem İmamoğlu. Chairman of the Board of Directors Murat Ongun, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club President Fatih Keleş and his lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan were brought to the hearing from prison. Hüseyin Gün and CHP Council Member Baki Aydöner were connected via SEGBİS. Selim İmamoğlu, Hasan İmamoğlu, artist Ercan Saatçi and Ertan Yıldız were also present in the hall. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Dilek İmamoğlu also watched the hearing.

The presiding judge announced that the defendants who were not detained would be heard first. İmamoğlu’s lawyer requested, “Mr. Ekrem wants to make a greeting speech.” The President rejected this request, saying, “There is no such procedure.” When İmamoğlu came to the podium, the presiding judge warned, “Ekrem İmamoğlu, you cannot get up and come to the podium and speak as you wish.” For İmamoğlu, who continued to speak despite the warning, it was noted in the minutes that “he came to the podium and continued to speak even though he was not given the right to speak.” The President also said, “Take your seat.”

After the audience reacted in the hall, the court president ordered the gendarmerie to evacuate the hall. Later, İmamoğlu’s lawyer, Hasan Fehmi Demir, requested a recusal for the court panel.

It was announced that the hearings will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until the end of April. Silivri District Governorate also banned meetings, banners, slogans and video shooting around the hearing until March 31.

HE WAGED HIS FINGER AT THE COURT

The court board rejected the defendant’s lawyers’ request for a recusal and stated that the hearing would continue today. When the hearing ended, İmamoğlu came to the podium, claimed that he was not given the right to speak, and made statements towards the delegation. The presiding judge reacted to the situation by saying, “You have been sabotaging this trial since you arrived.” Meanwhile, slogans were heard in the courtroom. Ekrem İmamoğlu made finger-pointing threats towards the delegation and the prosecutor. The hearing prosecutor said to İmamoğlu, “Put that hand down.”