Turkey seizes detained Istanbul mayor’s firm

Police officers confront university students taking part in a protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey. —REUTERS

ANKARA—Turkey seized the construction company coowned by detained Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s office said.

Turkey detained Imamoglu on Wednesday on charges such as graft and aiding a terrorist group, a step the main opposition party criticized as a “coup attempt against the next president.”

The prosecutor’s office said control of Imamoglu Construction, Trade and Industry was taken over by a criminal court of peace, based on financial crime investigation reports.

Imamoglu, 54, is the main rival of President Tayyip Erdogan.

Reuters

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