Bad News for Famous Names: Prosecutor’s Office Objects to House Arrest Decision for Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç
Famous artists Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç were released on house arrest after being detained on charges of promoting illegal betting. However, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office objected to this decision and demanded the arrest of the two names. With this move by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the course of the investigation was reshaped and Erbil and Ortaç were brought to court again.
How Did the Appeal Process Develop?
Within the scope of the illegal betting investigation, a total of 16 suspects, including Erbil and Ortaç, were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the police station. Ortaç and Erbil, who were brought before a judge, were released by the court with a house arrest order. However, the prosecutor’s office stated that this decision was insufficient and requested an arrest.
Emphasizing that the accusation of encouraging illegal betting is a serious crime, the prosecutor’s office stated that the house arrest order is not a sufficient measure against this crime and that both names should be sent to prison.
Serdar Ortaç “Gambling Destroyed My Life”
In his statement to the press at the courthouse, Serdar Ortaç said that gambling made him lose many things in his life and that he regretted it. Explaining that he was invited to a hotel opening in Malta, Ortaç stated that he was misunderstood because of a video taken there. “Gambling took my home, my marriage and my health. It also brought me to the courthouse. I don’t know how I came to this game, I don’t know how else to tell people about the harms of gambling,” Ortaç said, expressing that the events he experienced made him very sad.
Ortaç stated that he was invited to the opening of a hotel in Malta and that the images taken here were misused, emphasizing that he regretted the incident. “They recorded my images from his cell phone and published them without asking. At that moment, I fell into a situation that could be misunderstood.”
Mehmet Ali Erbil: “I am sorry to be in this incident”
Mehmet Ali Erbil also made a statement to the press at the courthouse exit and shared this situation on social media and said that the incident was a misunderstanding. Erbil stated that there was an attempt to make him wear a t-shirt at an event he attended in Malta, and that he later realized that this t-shirt contained an advertisement for illegal betting.
Stating that he warned against such games in his social media statements, Erbil said, “They tried to show me as a part of this virtual gambling. However, I am not a part of this event,” Erbil said. Erbil stated that he did not earn any income and that he was not aware of the illegal betting advertisement.
Illegal Betting Allegation and Investigation Developments
While the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office continues its investigation into the accusation of promoting illegal betting, it believes that harsher measures should be taken against Ortaç and Erbil. Stating that illegal betting is a crime that negatively affects the society, the prosecutor’s office requested a harsher measure considering the effects of celebrities on society.
The reasons for the arrest request include the negative impact of illegal betting activities on society and the role of these names in public opinion. The prosecutor’s office believes that the arrest of Erbil and Ortaç will act as a deterrent for other individuals. While some of the suspects were arrested, others were released on judicial control conditions.
Legal Process Continues Against Celebrities
While Serdar Ortaç and Mehmet Ali Erbil’s case regarding the accusation of promoting illegal betting has been brought to the judiciary, the public’s perspective towards these two famous names has also changed. Whether the prosecutor’s objection will be accepted or not will become clear in the coming days and both names are on the agenda to be brought to court again.
