The judiciary has rejected an appeal that sought to free Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from jail pending the outcome of his corruption trial, the state news agency reported.
Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for more than two decades, was arrested on March 19 and formally jailed on corruption charges four days later.
His arrest is seen as a politically motivated move aimed at eliminating his main competitor before the presidential elections scheduled for 2028, although they could take place earlier.
The mayor's arrest and subsequent removal from office sparked the biggest wave of anti-government protests in Turkey in a decade.
The government claims that the judiciary operates independently and free from political influence.
On Monday, Istanbul's First Instance Court decided to reject appeals from Imamoglu's lawyers, ruling that his detention would continue, according to Anadolu Agency.
The mayor's lawyers have alleged that the investigation into Imamoglu was conducted in violation of legal norms and are expected to file a new appeal.
The court also rejected appeals by Murat Ongun, the head of a media company linked to the Istanbul municipality and a close aide of Imamoglu, and other suspects arrested on corruption charges along with the mayor, the agency reported.
Imamoglu's lawyer could not confirm this information, saying that the decision had not been officially communicated to him.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
