Serdar Ortaç's testimony revealed: He said 'Mehmet Ali, it will end over'

The testimony of singer Serdar Ortaç, who was detained on charges of "encouraging illegal betting" and subsequently placed under house arrest, has been revealed.

In his testimony, Ortaç stated, "I currently hate gambling. I know what a terrible addiction it is. In other words, it should be understood that as someone who has been a victim to this degree, I would not consciously and willingly facilitate any illegal betting or gambling organization, or matters that encourage it."

According to a report in Sabah, Ortaç stated that he has been in the art and music community for 31 years, that he is primarily a composer, and that he makes his living from this and does not do any other work.

When asked where he knew the people in the videos circulating on social media, which are alleged to encourage gambling, and how long he had known them, Ortaç said, "I met the two individuals whose names you asked me about because of an invitation to Malta for a hotel opening."

"I have no prior acquaintance with these individuals. As far as I know, the other person mentioned in the videos, Mehmet Ali Erbil, also has no prior acquaintance with these individuals. I only went there upon invitation for the hotel and restaurant opening."

"MEHMET ALİ ERBİL SAID 'IT WOULD END OVER'"

Continuing, Ortaç stated that he was told he could perform a concert at the hotel at a later time, and said the following:

"I was even happy, thinking 'I've secured a job and will be able to perform a concert,' but the event turned into a betting matter when it wasn't even on the agenda. Suddenly, they started a live broadcast. There was even a match on the screen. They asked, 'What will the final score be?' Mehmet Ali Erbil made comments like 'it will end over' (meaning 3 or more goals in the match)."

"After these videos, an individual named Ünal called me several times. He invited me to broadcast together again. He even offered me money, although no amount was discussed. However, after the video that is the subject of the investigation was published, I understood the situation based on the reactions I received from my circle, and I rejected the subsequent offers from these individuals."

Stating that he never saw these individuals again, Ortaç said, "I am very sorry for setting a bad example for society. I want to state this. I am very sad because of this incident."

TRANSCRIPT OF THE CHAT IN THE VIDEO WAS SHOWN

During the prosecutor's interrogation, the transcript of the chat Ortaç expressed in the videos was also shown to him.

Here are those dialogues:

Serdar Ortaç: Everyone who comes along has become a gambler. Secondly, just like you, uh, secondly, they keep saying 'dede' (grandpa) all over the place. I couldn't understand what this 'dede' is, but uh, I guess this is it.

Ünal Orhan: Brother, this is the 'dede'.

S.O.: Why do they call him 'dede'? Because the guy is old.

Ü.O.: Exactly, brother, and this is the handsome Greek god Zeus.

S.O.: Have you won in your life?

Ü.O.: I won from this game, but I gave more back to it.

S.O.: Well, did you give it the next day?

Ü.O: Yes, I gave more.

S.O: Bet, bet a little, man.

Ü.O.: Brother, let's do it like this from here.

S.O.: Son, bet a little.

Ü.O: 250 liras, brother. Shall we buy 20 thousand liras worth then, is that okay, brother?

S.O.: Oh my God.

Ü.O: If it hits, let's distribute the winnings too. But over 20 thousand.

S.O: Honestly, I was like this at your age, it was exactly this.

Ü.O.: But there was no 'dede' then, right brother?

S.O.: I congratulate you.

Ü.O: Brother, now x is coming.

"I APOLOGIZE A THOUSAND TIMES"

After this video transcript was shown at the prosecutor's office, Ortaç was reminded of the allegation that "as someone who has become a public figure and is known by all segments of society, he encouraged illegal betting and gambling by instilling a desire for easy money, especially among young people and children." When asked for his defense, Ortaç spoke as follows:

"These conversations you showed are correct. However, I never looked at this video from that perspective. It was like a normal video shot inside a house. As everyone who knows me is aware, it is known that I have gambled and suffered a lot in the past because of this. I currently hate gambling. I know what a terrible addiction it is. In other words, it should be understood that as someone who has been a victim to this degree, I would not consciously and willingly facilitate any illegal betting or gambling organization, or matters that encourage it. If I set a bad example for society unknowingly and unintentionally, I apologize. I apologize a thousand times."

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had issued detention warrants for 23 suspects, including social media influencers and some famous names, as part of an investigation into allegations of encouraging illegal betting.

It was determined that the suspects alleged to have appeared in illegal betting advertisements included singer Serdar Ortaç, presenter Mehmet Ali Erbil, former football player Batuhan Karadeniz, social media influencers İbrahim Yılmaz, Muzaffer Zorbey Erkoçkar, Sefa Caner Sarıçam, and Aleksander Mensikof, who is a citizen of both Russia and Turkey.

In the operation carried out by the Istanbul Police Department teams, 16 of the suspects, including Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç, were detained, and it was learned that 5 of the suspects were abroad and efforts were ongoing to locate the other 2.

Following their procedures at the police station, judicial control decisions in the form of "house arrest" were issued for Serdar Ortaç and Mehmet Ali Erbil, who were referred to the courthouse; 12 suspects, including Sefa Caner Sarıçam, Esma Sözen, Muzaffer Zorbey Erkoçkar, and İbrahim Yılmaz, were arrested, and it was decided to release 2 suspects under judicial control conditions.

The prosecutor's office objected to the judicial control measure imposed by the peace criminal judgeship for 4 suspects, including Erbil and Ortaç, and requested that these suspects also be arrested.