Details of the indictment regarding businessman Sadettin Saran revealed: Illegal betting

The investigation into allegations that illegal betting advertisements were displayed during match broadcasts aired by a media group owned by businessman Sadettin Saran, thereby encouraging people to gamble, has been completed.

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office lists Alan Kenan Saran, Azade Zeynep Haksal, Emre Eren, and Sadettin Saran as 'suspects'.

The indictment states that it was determined that unlicensed and illegal betting site advertisements were displayed using virtual advertising techniques during football matches broadcast on the S SPORT+ branded internet streaming platform, which operates under Saran İnternet Televizyon Yayıncılık A.Ş.

BROADCASTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTENT

The indictment alleges that while it was determined that unlicensed and illegal betting site advertisements were placed on stadium advertising boards and on both sides of the goalposts using virtual advertising techniques, and while it was claimed that the advertising banners on the sidelines were not under the control of the media service provider as the broadcaster—but rather at the discretion of the host football club or the federation—and that there was no legal liability in this regard, it was noted that there is a clear administrative view that the access of said broadcasts to Turkey is provided by the media service provider and that the broadcaster is responsible for the published content.

CONTACT MADE WITH SPAIN

The indictment notes that in line with the findings, Steven Sadettin Saran, Chairman of the Board of Saran İnternet Televizyon Yayıncılık A.Ş., Vice Chairman Alan Kenan Saran, the company's general manager and responsible manager Azade Zeynep Haksal, and Emre Eren, the general manager responsible for the organization of football match broadcasts, did not accept the accusations in their defense. They stated that the match broadcasts were obtained from contracted organizations or sports clubs, that they were obligated to broadcast the matches directly and without interference under the terms of the contracts, that the organization or club providing the match broadcasts did not inform the broadcaster about the broadcast content, and that it was technically impossible to broadcast the matches in a way that would censor illegal betting advertisements; therefore, they, like many other broadcasters, were compelled to air matches containing illegal betting advertisements. The suspects also noted that they had contacted Spain's top-tier football league, Primera Division, but did not receive a positive result from the correspondence and had announced this situation to the public.

REQUEST FOR UP TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON

The indictment requests that suspects Sadettin Saran and Alan Kenan Saran be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for the crime of 'encouraging individuals to place bets or play games of chance based on sports competitions through advertising or other means.' For suspects Azade Zeynep Haksal and Emre Eren, a prison sentence of 1 year and 3 months to 5 years and 3 months was requested on the grounds that they committed the same crime in a chain of events.