The arrested and removed mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, has also been included in an espionage investigation and is set to be questioned, Turkish media reported, citing a statement from the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office, BTA reported/
The Turkish journalist Merdan Yanardag was also detained in the same investigation, and police searched his office in the TELE1 television editorial office and his home.
According to the prosecutor's office statement, the case is related to an earlier investigation in which businessman Huseyin Gun was arrested on July 4 on suspicion of acting on behalf of foreign countries and using encrypted means of communication to secretly exchange messages.
Authorities said that digital Evidence obtained by Gunn, including encrypted phones and handwritten documents, revealed photos of military equipment and Israeli passports, as well as contacts with individuals previously investigated in terrorism cases. Investigators have also found links to numerous foreign consular officers and intelligence agents, the newspaper "Türkiye Today" reported.
A financial investigation has found that Gün made significant domestic and international money transfers despite not having any active business activities, and withdrew 85 million liras ($2.02 million) in cash without any recorded transactions to justify the movement of funds, the website explained.
Handwritten notes allegedly belonging to Gün refer to coup attempts and internal unrest in foreign countries and include details of meetings with individuals identified as intelligence officers and senior members of the FETO organization, which Ankara accuses of being behind the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
The prosecutor's statement said that encrypted messages on the "Wickr" platform between Gun and Imamoglu's campaign manager, Necati Ozkan, included instructions to "collect digital information," "mobilize 70,000 volunteers," and warnings that a campaign staff member's phone had been compromised by spyware.
Prosecutors allege Gun acted as Ozkan's manager within an alleged "criminal organization" linked to Imamoglu, whose goal was to generate financial gain and create a fund to support Imamoglu's presidential campaign.
Authorities allege that during the 2019 local election campaign, the suspects collaborated to analyze voter data and share information with foreign intelligence services – actions defined as espionage.
The statement also said that Gün had direct contact and meetings with İmamoğlu, and that journalist Merdan İnardag had multiple contacts with Gün regarding espionage activities.
Citing witness testimony, prosecutors allege that İnardag coordinated the media portion of the election campaign in exchange for financial benefits and that he collaborated with foreign intelligence services to manipulate the 2019 local elections.
Prosecutors said that İmamoğlu and Özkan, both previously detained in a corruption case, would testify on espionage charges.
The statement added that the investigation is being conducted jointly by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Istanbul police and "will continue resolutely and expand further." more“.