Istanbul mayor's arrest based on criminal reports, justice minister says

Ankara: Turkey's justice minister said on Thursday the decision to arrest Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was based on criminal reports and not linked to the timing of the opposition CHP party's selection of Imamoglu as its presidential candidate.

The decision to arrest Imamoglu was reasonable, considering the gravity of allegations against him, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc told a press conference in Istanbul.