A Turkish prosecutor demanded on Tuesday a prison sentence exceeding 2,000 years for Ekrem Imamoglu, the jailed opposition mayor of Istanbul and President Tayyip Erdogan's chief political rival.
The indictment accuses Imamoglu of leading a criminal organization involving bribery, fraud, and bid-rigging that inflicted 160 billion lira ($3.8 billion) in losses on the state over a decade.
Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek presented the 4,000-page document, naming 402 suspects including the mayor as founder and head.
It relies on financial analyses, digital evidence, and allegations of coerced bribes through a municipal secret fund.
In a related action, the prosecutor urged a higher court to consider dissolving Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP), citing illicit financing.
Imamoglu, detained since March on corruption suspicions, denies all charges as politically motivated.
His party rejected the indictment as nonsense and branded the CHP closure bid a coup attempt.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel affirmed Imamoglu as their 2028 presidential candidate, stating his only crime is seeking the presidency.
The mayor faces 142 corruption offenses, plus separate convictions for insulting officials and ongoing probes into espionage and diploma forgery.
The government maintains judicial independence and denies political interference.
Analyst Wolfango Piccoli warned of potential government control over Istanbul, polarizing politics and eroding trust in courts.
Imamoglu's 2019 and 2024 electoral victories underscore his prominence, with detention sparking protests and arrests.