Mehmet pehlivan, the lawyer for IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu, is under investigation. A prosecutor’s office referral letter requesting his arrest alleges that “the suspects planned the lawyers who will follow the investigation process in the detention and subsequent processes before the investigation against the IMM” and aimed “to reach the statements of the people who were expressed in the file.” The letter further claims Pehlivan “pressured the suspects who want to give testify to prisoners and directed the lawyers under the control of the suspects to prisons” and that “these lawyers met with the suspects in the direction of suggesting and pressures to talk to individuals.”

Mehmet Pehlivan, also the lawyer of CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was detained in Marmara Prison in Silivri, was summoned to testify following allegations from individuals who testified under ‘effective regret’ in the investigations against IMM. Pehlivan appeared at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to testify. He was not detained at that time.

Pehlivan declined to testify, citing that the Ministry of Justice’s investigation did not comply with the Law on Attorneys. The prosecutor later demanded Pehlivan‘s arrest on charges of “membership of a criminal institution,” and he was referred to the Criminal Court of Magistrates on duty.

Statements of Servet Yildirim and Adem Soytekin Cited

The referral letter concerning Pehlivan references statements from business person Hüseyin Köksal‘s driver, SEYET YILDIRIM, and business person Cool soytekin. According to the letter, these individuals, acting with ‘effective regret’, stated that pehlivan acted within the scope of the organization, planning the legal strategy for suspects before and during the IMM investigation, aiming to control the narrative.

“The suspects planned the lawyers who will follow the investigation process in the detention and subsequent processes before the investigation against the IMM.”

“Intelligence and prints in order not to speak…”

The referral article alleges that Pehlivan organized lawyers for the detained suspects within the scope of the investigations against the IMM, pressuring suspects who wanted to testify and directing lawyers under the suspects’ control to the prisons.

“In an vital position within the organization”

The referral letter asserts that Pehlivan held an “important position in the ‘organization’,” acting to prevent its disintegration and resolution. It claims there is strong suspicion based on concrete evidence that he is involved in the hierarchical structure of the criminal organization.

The prosecution requested Pehlivan‘s arrest based on allegations that there were strong reasons to suspect he would pressure suspects and witnesses.