New development in the Seçil Erzan case: Court announces its decision. Fatih Terim to be summoned

The trial continued for bank branch manager Seçil Erzan, who is accused of defrauding 29 people, including well-known football players Arda Turan, Fernando Muslera, Emre Belözoğlu, and Selçuk İnan, of approximately 25 million dollars and 7 million 384 thousand liras by claiming there was a reliable, high-yield fund and that names like Fatih Terim were also involved in this fund.

The hearing, held by the Istanbul 41st High Criminal Court, was attended by the 7 defendants, including detained defendants Seçil Erzan and Ali Yörük, as well as 4 defendants who are being tried without detention. Lawyers for the parties were also present.

"I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATTER"

During the hearing, witness Hakan Kıran, who stated that he is a businessman and first met Seçil Erzan in person in 2020, said, “Seçil Erzan told me there was a high-yield fund that Fatih Terim was also involved in.

I am also a customer of the bank. In my capacity as a businessman, I know everyone, and I also know Mr. Hakan. When I asked Ms. Seçil if Mr. Hakan was aware of this, she asked me not to tell them, saying that they were aware but that this was a private fund and they might want to invest in it, so she didn't want me to share it with them. I called Mr. Mehmet Aydoğdu; I know him, and he is someone I speak with very often.

He told me regarding Ms. Seçil, ‘She is a successful manager, but I have no knowledge of the matter.’ I told him she came to me with a very strange offer, just so you know. He thanked me and hung up,” he said.

"WE SAW THE DOCUMENTS THEY HAD"

Another witness, Cenk İzgi, stated that he is an executive at the Board of Inspectors and said in his testimony, “Our team manages the inspection activities at the bank. On April 7, 2023, our European regional manager, Ms. Zuhal, called. Names like Emre Belözoğlu had come with papers in their hands, asking if this was at the bank. When we went to the branch, we went to Ms. Seçil’s office.

Emre Belözoğlu, Volkan Bahçekapılı, Ms. Zuhal, and Ms. Rüya were there. We saw the documents they had. When I saw the document, I realized these were not real. Belözoğlu told us, ‘We didn't come to file a complaint, we are trying to understand whether this money is in our accounts or not.’

We told them it did not appear in the account and that our investigation would continue. When I arrived at the General Directorate, I went to Mr. Hakan’s office. I conveyed the situation regarding the complaints. Later, İnci Çeviker had said that there was a risk of Ms. Seçil fleeing abroad. Through our legal counsel, an application was made for a travel ban. There were serious figures and complaints, but the accounts were empty,” he said.

"WE ENTERED THIS BUSINESS BECAUSE IT WAS THE COACH'S FUND"

Speaking about the meeting held with Fatih Terim, Emre Belözoğlu, and Arda Turan, witness İzgi said, “Arda Turan told us, ‘We entered this business because it was the coach's fund,’ and we handed over cash. When we asked what they trusted, they said they did it because Fatih Bey told them, ‘Seçil is like my daughter.’”

Since these transactions were always in cash, there was nothing recorded. Ms. Sermin called the number Arda Turan gave her, labeled ‘Abla Çorlu.’ The phone was not answered. There was nothing in the banking system. There were no entries or exits regarding the amounts they told us.

What was done is actually exactly a Ponzi scheme. There was a list Arda Turan gave us. There was a 26 million dollar difference. The question ‘Then where is this money?’ arose. Then the amounts changed, and we reached the current situation. During this time, Ms. Seçil said she received 300 thousand dollars from Fatih Terim. She said she gave too much money to Semih Kaya and Fırat Özdemir. She stated that she was being threatened. Her emotional state was also not good,” he said.

CONTINUATION OF DETENTION ORDERED

Announcing its interim decision, the court ruled for the continuation of the detention of defendants Seçil Erzan and Ali Yörük.

The panel decided to grant time for all newly added complainants to the file, including Fatih Terim, to be present at the next hearing, and ruled that if they are not present, a warrant for their forcible appearance will be issued.

The court also rejected the requests to hear Hakan Ateş and Mehmet Aydoğdu as witnesses on the grounds that they did not have clear information regarding the file, while also ordering the forcible appearance of witnesses who are no longer employed at the bank, and adjourned the hearing to September 20.