Turkish court orders release of eight defendants in Istanbul municipality trial

An Istanbul heavy penal court has ordered the release of eight jailed defendants on the 109th day of hearings in a wide-ranging trial involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).

Among those granted release by the Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court are Mehmet Pehlivan, a lawyer representing Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Fatoş Pınar Türker, the general manager of Medya AŞ. The decision came at the conclusion of the third session of hearings held at the courtroom complex opposite Marmara Prison in Silivri.

The broader case involves 436 defendants, dozens of whom were held in pre-trial detention, including elected Mayor İmamoğlu. During the recent proceedings, defense counsel and defendants pushed for release, challenging statements made by secret witnesses.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet