Indictment prepared against former footballer Ümit Karan: Here is the requested prison sentence

The investigation into former footballer Ümit Karan, who was arrested on January 16 on allegations of drug use, has been completed.

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Ümit Karan is listed as a 'defendant'. The indictment states that the investigation was launched following the testimony of an individual named Ş.N.Ö., who provided a statement as a 'witness' on January 14, 2026, claiming: "I know the person named Ümit Karan. We met 7 months ago and used drugs together about 3 times.

I never brought drugs to Ümit Karan. Ümit Karan brought the drugs himself and offered them to me; I did not pay any money in return for this."

"I absolutely did not offer any drugs"

The indictment notes that no evidence of a crime or criminal elements was found during a search of Ümit Karan's home in Bakırköy following the investigation. In his statement to the prosecutor included in the indictment, suspect Karan said: "I did not use drugs. I did not give drugs to anyone in any way. In the past, I used something abroad that I did not know what it was. I never gave drugs to any girl. I know the person named Ş.N.Ö. I have had a relationship with her. However, there was never a situation where I gave her drugs. If she said such a thing because we often fought during our relationship, I do not accept it. I did not offer drugs to anyone outside. The photo in the WhatsApp conversation you showed belongs to me. I absolutely did not offer any drugs. I have known the person named T.Ü. for 20 years. When I first met him, he was working as a manager at a cinema; he is currently involved in the textile business. I do not know if he sells drugs. I know the person named G.G. We met 4 years ago. We have eaten together occasionally. They did not give me drugs, and I do not know what kind of relationship he has with his girlfriend. I believe the person named N.I. is G.G.'s girlfriend, if I remember correctly. There has been no relationship between us regarding drugs. The communication between these people and Ş.N.Ö. may have continued. I know the person named R.K. We met about 2 years ago; he introduced himself as a musician, and there was no drug-related relationship between us. When I met Ş.N.Ö., she had also made romantic advances to my friends. I was trying to avoid this girl. We had an emotional relationship, but I did not give her drugs."

Drugs detected

The indictment emphasizes that in an examination conducted at the Council of Forensic Medicine to verify the accuracy of witness Ş.N.Ö.'s statements, it was determined that both Ş.N.Ö. and Ümit Karan had used the drug 'cocaine'. Furthermore, the indictment includes the charge that Ümit Karan committed the alleged crime in a chain-like manner by supplying, providing, and giving the cocaine detected in his body samples to a user on 3 different occasions.

The indictment requests that suspect Ümit Karan be sentenced to no less than 10 years for the crime of 'drug trafficking and purchasing'. The prepared indictment has been sent to the Istanbul 41st High Criminal Court for evaluation.