Details of the indictment against Mehmet Ali Erbil revealed: He instilled a greed for easy money

Details have emerged from the indictment prepared against Mehmet Ali Erbil, who faces a demand for up to 3 years in prison in Istanbul on charges of advertising illegal betting and encouraging people to participate.

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Spor Toto Organization Presidency is listed as the 'aggrieved party', while Mehmet Ali Erbil is listed as the 'suspect'.

The indictment states that the suspect, Mehmet Ali Erbil, appeared in videos that promoted illegal betting and gambling through sites and applications that are not authorized or licensed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports' Spor Toto Organization Presidency, and are therefore illegal.

THEY INSTILLED AN AMBITION FOR EASY MONEY AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

The indictment notes that as a public figure known to all segments of society, the suspect Erbil encouraged illegal betting and gambling by instilling an ambition for easy money, particularly among young people and children, with remarks such as claiming in a video that one could earn money 'equivalent to a pension'.

"IT WAS A VIDEO FILMED AS A MEMENTO"

The indictment also includes the statement given by the suspect Erbil to the Prosecutor's Office, in which he stated that a mutual friend named Barış had invited him and Serdar Ortaç to a hotel opening in Malta, saying, "They had prepared a studio in the style of a stand-up show. They invited us there and tried to film. The owner tried to make me wear a T-shirt. I learned after the incident that this T-shirt contained betting advertisements, and I objected to it. In the broadcasts in question, I have statements such as 'gambling is very dangerous, I have never played it in my life.' I did not receive any fee or financial gain from these individuals in exchange for appearing in these videos. We had this conversation in a joking environment, but they tried to trap us with this incident. I did not understand that the expressions on the T-shirt were betting advertisements; I appeared in the video in question without being aware of this. I have never played any betting or gambling on such sites in my life. I was a guest there. Because I was a guest, I did not cause a scene. It was a video filmed as a memento; it was not filmed to be published," he said.

HE DID NOT FILM THE VIDEOS UNDER ANY THREAT OR COERCION

The indictment states that, considering the suspect Mehmet Ali Erbil's recognition and visibility in the media sector, it is not expected that he would accept every invitation from people he did not know beforehand and with whom he had no friendship or acquaintance without receiving any benefit, and that even his trip to Malta and being hosted there falls within the scope of benefit.

Furthermore, it was noted that in the video, the environment was completely safe and far from any threat or coercion, and that even if the claim were to be accepted as true, he had the opportunity to call the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey to explain the situation and ask for help without even needing the law enforcement of the country he was in, yet he did not do so; moreover, he had no judicial application from the time he entered the country until the date his defense was taken.

HE HARMED SOCIETY BY NORMALIZING THE SITUATION

The indictment further emphasizes that the suspect Mehmet Ali Erbil, who is known and recognized by the public and appeals to all segments of society through his films, series, and television programs, harmed society by encouraging illegal betting and gambling and making this situation appear normal and ordinary in society.

DEMAND FOR UP TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON

The indictment demands that the suspect Mehmet Ali Erbil be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for the crime of 'encouraging individuals to play fixed-odds or mutual betting or games of chance based on sports competitions by advertising or other means'.

The court's review of the indictment, which has not yet been accepted by the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance, is ongoing.