First statement of influencer İbrahim Yılmaz, arrested for illegal betting, revealed

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, as part of an investigation into allegations of encouraging illegal betting, has ordered the arrest of İbrahim Yılmaz, Emirhan Karauç, Aleyna Göreci, Emircan Çelik, Ramazan Karkin, Aleksandr Maenshıkov, Muhammet Sümertaş, Esma Sözen, Soner Kabakçı, Yağmur Şifa Yaprak, Sefa Caner Sarıçam and Muzaffer Zorbey Erkoçlar.

On the other hand, house arrest was ordered for artist Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç, who were among the suspects.

The statement of the arrested social media influencer İbrahim Yılmaz has been revealed.

According to Habertürk's report, İbrahim Yılmaz stated in his testimony that he has 20 million followers and that he directed his followers to the sites with which he had advertising agreements.

Yılmaz claimed that he only learned that the sites in question were illegal betting sites after the advertising agreement.

WHO IS İBRAHİM YILMAZ?

İbrahim Yılmaz was born on December 19, 1985, in Istanbul. Yılmaz is originally from Çorum.

Yılmaz completed his high school education at Çorum High School and subsequently graduated from Istanbul University's Faculty of Business Administration.

Yılmaz began his business life in the security sector and continued his career in this field by establishing his own security company.

On the other hand, he also occasionally appeared in supporting roles in television series.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had issued detention warrants for 23 suspects, including social media influencers and some famous names, in 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 footballer Batuhan Karadeniz, social media influencers İbrahim Yılmaz, Muzaffer Zorbey Erkoçkar, Sefa Caner Sarıçam, and Aleksander Mensikof, a citizen of both Russia and Turkey.

In the operation conducted by the Istanbul Police Department, 16 of the suspects, including Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç, were detained.

It was learned that 5 of the suspects were abroad and efforts to locate the other 2 were ongoing.

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