ALBAWABA - Turkish media reported Sunday that Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been placed under arrest by the Istanbul criminal court on corruption charges.
On March 19, Turkish authorities detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Anadolu Agency reported citing Turkish prosecutors.
Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office further added in a statement that an arrest warrant was issued against the Istanbul Mayor and 99 others.
Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested inside his house, sources revealed. Massive protests erupted in Istanbul and several other cities against the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and protesters clashed with Turkish riot police which used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.
Local media reported Istanbul Mayor and 99 others were arrested with links to a corruption inquiry.
Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said: "İBB Mayor İmamoğlu and many people forced businessmen to give money, made unjust gains by acting with some businessmen, laundered the money they obtained from crime by making purchases and sales through pawns, and used civilians referred to as 'secret safes' in the transfer and collection of money."
