The trial of renowned singer Serdar Ortac for allegedly promoting illegal betting advertisements began on Tuesday at the 25th Criminal Court of First Instance in Istanbul’s Caglayan Justice Palace. Prominent entertainer Mehmet Ali Erbil, named as a witness, is also involved in the case, reads a Daily Sabah report.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into illegal gambling promotions. Following their initial questioning, both Ortaç and Erbil were placed under judicial control and house arrest instead of being detained.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Ortac appeared in court on Tuesday. Erbil, who is expected to testify, also attended the session. Speaking to journalists outside the courthouse, Erbil remarked: “Serdar is luckier in this matter. His case will be heard earlier, which gives me an opportunity to observe the trial and its outcome. I hope it turns out well for him.”
The investigation, which dates back to November 20, uncovered a network of influencers allegedly promoting illegal gambling platforms. Authorities issued arrest warrants for multiple individuals, including well-known social media figures such as Yasin Obuz, Mesut Can Eray, Cenk Pekkan, Unal Orhan, Ozgür Yagan, Kerem Gulsoy, and Ozcan Acar.
Yasin Obuz, a reality TV star with nearly one million Instagram followers, was found to be advertising illegal betting sites. The crackdown aims to curb the growing influence of social media on illegal gambling activities.
As part of the inquiry, 12 suspects were detained, and additional warrants were issued for influencers believed to be abroad, including Aydogan Duru and Ramiz Nurcin. Both Ortac and Erbil were implicated in the promotions, leading to their house arrest.
This high-profile trial has drawn significant public attention as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle illegal betting operations involving celebrities and online influencers.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
