At the 61st hearing in the case, a heated argument broke out between Imamoglu and the presiding judge over the defence schedule. Imamoglu objected to the judge’s decision to change the order in which defence statements would be heard, and to the plan for the first stage of the trial to end on July 9 before all defendants had been heard.

Imamoglu argued that other defendants whose defence statements were linked to his had not yet been heard. This prompted a dispute with the judge and increased tension in the courtroom, ANKA said.

The former mayor said the trial cast a negative light on Turkiye and its people, but was being closely followed in the country and abroad and was of great importance. For that reason, he said, the first stage of the trial could not end on July 9.

The trial of Imamoglu and 441 other defendants began on March 19. A total of 59 defendants in the case are in custody.