New testimonies in drug investigation: 'Veyis Ateş will bring kokoreç' remarks included in indictment

Significant developments have occurred in the drug and prostitution investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Within the scope of the investigation, the statements of a female presenter who testified as a suspect brought the names of former Habertürk Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy and former executive Veyis Ateş to the agenda.

According to the suspect's statement, she met Mehmet Akif Ersoy via social media in 2017 and attended the Big Burn festival held in Kilyos in July 2018 with him.

Allegations of harassment regarding a friend brought by Ersoy at the festival were also included in the interrogation records.

"VEYİS ATEŞ WILL BRING KOKOREÇ" ALLEGATION

In a statement regarding a meeting on May 4, 2019, the suspect stated that while she was at Ersoy's house, he said, "Veyis Ateş will come soon, he will bring kokoreç."

It was alleged that Veyis Ateş, who arrived shortly after, took out a substance he claimed was drugs from his pocket, and that they used this substance together with four people in the house. The suspect stated that this experience was the first for both herself and Ersoy.

In the following period, the suspect presenter said that she went to Ersoy's house again and that Veyis Ateş was also present at two separate meetings. A total of five people used drugs at both meetings.

The suspect alleged that the drugs were provided by Veyis Ateş at both meetings.

In her statement regarding the pandemic period, the suspect claimed that at a meeting at Ersoy's house, there was cocaine on a plate in the kitchen and everyone in the house used the substance.

"WE BROUGHT THE DEALER TO THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE" STATEMENT

In another statement, the suspect stated that Akif Ersoy ordered drugs and that she and a woman named D. "brought the dealer to the door of the house." The suspect said that the dealer left after delivering the drugs.

Within the scope of the investigation, four people, including Mehmet Akif Ersoy, were detained in the first operation and arrested on charges of using drugs and establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes.

It was reported that findings regarding drug use were encountered in the tests performed on the arrested individuals.

During the investigation process, while suspect presenter Ela Rümeysa Cebeci was also arrested, former Habertürk executive Veyis Ateş and social media influencer Taner Çağlı were sent to prison in the next operation. Businessperson Mustafa Karataş was released under judicial control.

It was learned that Mehmet Akif Ersoy gave a statement to benefit from effective remorse provisions within the scope of the investigation, but the statement he provided was not found sufficient for his release.