Ekrem İmamoğlu, the main political rival of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, faces charges including bribery and extortion
Turkish prosecutors have charged Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, with 142 offences that could carry a penalty of hundreds of years in prison, in a move seen as a politically motivated attack on the country’s opposition.
The indictment filed on Tuesday, which runs to nearly 4,000 pages, charges the popular opposition figure who was arrested on 19 March with offences including running a criminal organisation, bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, extortion and tender rigging.
The state news agency, Anadolu, said prosecutors would be asking for prison sentences that could amount to up to 2,430 years behind bars if he is found guilty.
Turkey’s opposition leader said the charges were intended to prevent İmamoğlu running for president in the 2028 election.
