The detention of two lawyers in the same Istanbul Municipality corruption file has highlighted different approaches within the judiciary.
On Aug. 26, former AKP Central Decision-Making Board member Mücahit Birinci was summoned by prosecutors to testify in Istanbul, while Nusret Yılmaz, lawyer of Ekrem İmamoğlu and his wife, was detained early in the morning in Trabzon. Both face bribery-related accusations.
CHP Chair Özgür Özel shared documents alleging that Birinci asked imprisoned businessperson Murat Kapki to pay $2 million in exchange for his release, provided he signed a false statement. Afterwards, the AKP expelled Birinci, and an investigation was launched. Birinci has denied the allegations.
Since Birinci is a lawyer, summoning him required Justice Ministry authorization. The ministry granted permission, but in Yılmaz’s case, prosecutors acted without waiting for authorization.
Both men were released on probation following their testimonies, with a travel ban and mandatory judicial check-ins.
İmamoğlu's other lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was arrested on June 19 on charges of membership of a criminal organization.
İmamoğlu stated on social media that the ongoing operation against lawyers continued to trample on the law. He said those who could not achieve their desired outcome even by manipulating the judiciary and bending the law were now taking revenge on the lawyers and their families.
