At the hearing to be held by the Istanbul 19th High Criminal Court, 7 defendants, including Ersoy, appeared before the judge for the first time. While it was initially decided that the hearing would be closed to the press, members of the press were later allowed into the hall.
While detained and unarrested defendants, including Mehmet Akif Ersoy, were present in the courtroom, some defendants attended via SEGBİS.
The court decided to continue Ersoy's detention. Ufuk Tetik was released. The next hearing was postponed to October 9.
Former Habertürk editor-in-chief Veyis Ateş, whose release was decided in his own trial recently, was also at the Istanbul Courthouse.
"I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO REFUSES TO USE DRUGS"
Victim Melis Asena Özkan said the following in her statement:
-"I apologize for being in front of you in such an embarrassing incident. I have always had a job with merit in my professional life, in the field of finance. I met Nurullah Mahmut Dündar in 2022. I have never used drugs in my 36 years of life. I am the only person who refuses to use drugs in the presence of Mehmet Akif Ersoy. I met Nurullah in 2022. Then I went to his office. It was his home office. He was going to hire me. Nurullah Mahmut Dündar and I met with Mehmet Akif twice. I did not want Akif to come for the third time because the offers made to me were multiple relationships and drug use.
"THE TRUTH OR DARE GAME WAS PLAYED DURING THE MEETINGS"
-The truth or dare game was played in all three meetings. Questions were asked to check the pulse. Among the questions asked: 'How comfortable are you, do you have close girlfriends, show your most revealing photo on your phone, can you tell me what your fantasy is?' There were questions like. When I went to the office on the first day, I noticed a hidden camera. I unplugged the camera in the living room. On my second visit, I unplugged the camera as soon as I entered the house. When I went for the third time, I saw that Dündar had recorded me. I entered his gallery. There were videos from that night, I deleted them all. I was called for a job interview for the fourth time. He threatened me with withdrawing his references. He said, 'Mehmet Akif will come and help you with the business.' I rejected him.
“I COMPLAIN ABOUT BEING INVITED WITH THE PROMISE OF A JOB”
-Dundar was constantly smoking cocaine. He proposed to me. During our last meeting, he tried to bite my teeth, then I backed away. My second meeting with Ersoy was of my own free will. I saw Dündar when the operation was carried out against Mehmet Akif. I was offered a bribe, 'Don't give my husband's name, we will do whatever is necessary, financially and spiritually'. I asked for a job because I was in a very difficult situation. I was pulled into that vortex, citing my job as a reason. I did not go to the fourth meeting of my own free will. I complain about being invited to the environment with the promise of a job.
“I HAVE NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT”
Victim Dilek Olgun said, "I was not sexually assaulted by them. I liked him, we met him, we had a relationship. I was not under the influence of drugs. I have nothing to complain about. I saw them using drugs. Nobody forced anyone to use it. I was not forced. Akif is a secretive man. The kitchen is a closed area. At home I was wondering 'What are they doing?' I looked. They caught me drinking in the kitchen. It wasn't an obvious situation. "I'm not complaining," he said.
Victim Burcu Akyüz said, "Ahmet Göçmez was my boyfriend. Then I met these people. I continued to see him after we left. It was my birthday that day. We met at Mustafa's house. We drank alcohol and did drugs, but there was nothing I could complain about. I didn't see how the drugs were brought, they were at home. I had sexual intercourse with Akif, but of my own volition. I was dating Ahmet because he was my boyfriend. Mehmet was in another room. There were some rapprochements, but there was no unity. "I used drugs, but not by force," he said.
Victim Buse Öztay said, "I was definitely not involved in public sexual intercourse. It is true that I use drugs. Ahmet, Mehmet, me and Gizem used the substance at Gizem's house. I do not know how the substance was taken. "Everything happened with my own consent," he said.
"EVERYTHING HAPPENED WITH MY CONSENT"
Victim Dilara Yıldız said, "I went to Taner's boat for travel purposes with Buse and Mehmet Akif. I used drugs the first day. Mehmet Akif brought it. Everything happened with my consent. "I'm not complaining," he said.
