The bank is accused of defrauding 29 people, including famous footballers Arda Turan, Fernando Muslera, Emre Belozoglu and Selçuk İnan, of around $25 million and 7,384,000 liras by claiming to have set up a “high-return and reliable fund.” Fatih Terim and others were also part of the fund. The trial of the bank’s manager, Cecil Erzan, is ongoing.
The hearing of the seven defendants, held at Istanbul’s 41st High Criminal Court, was attended by detained defendants Cecil Erzan and Ali Yoruk, as well as four defendants who have not yet been arrested.
The lawyers for the parties were also present at the hearing.
“If they had taken my life, I would not have suffered so much.”
Defendant Cecil Erzan, who defended at the hearing, said: “Bankers were forbidden to touch the money. We looked at the money as a bogeyman. I’m telling the truth here, but I don’t think it will cause any legal problems.” During the inspection, they asked me if I had hired a lawyer. I always went to Florya or Galatasaray facilities. The biggest loan shark in Istanbul, a man called Suleyman Aslan, came to my room, no one knew about it, it was clear that something dark was going on, but it was not normal for anyone to know about it. This money was in the bank, they said, the bank does not know about this, there are no transactions outside the window, even though it took my life last year. For example, Fatih Terim never came to the window. “We took the money to the customer’s house, there was no way the bank would not see it. He should have said to me, ‘What are you doing?'” he said.
“Arda Turan withdrew $33 million.”
Erzan continued his defense, saying: “When a customer tried to take out a loan of more than 500,000 lira, for what reason, he had to document it and submit it to the bank. Arda Turan withdrew $33 million. But he did not. Provide documents about why he invests. The regional manager called me and said: “Why doesn’t he have documents?” “He asked, because it was a remarkable case. Everything was clear and understandable, but I did everything. The bank should have asked me about withdrawing millions of dollars from the branch on the same day. The bank is saying that it should not have happened,” he said.
He cried and defended himself.
As she continued her defense, Erzan began crying and stated her request for release, asking the judge: “Do you really think I’m a fraud? Do you believe me?” she said.
Afterwards, he said, “I did not benefit from this money. They took it from me by force. If they had guns, this would not have happened. Nothing else has happened. If I had received this money, I would have asked for it from Bank “Cecil” anyway, because people are so greedy. “We thought he would go overseas and run away. But I had already called everyone, I had no idea.” While running away, I was thinking how to pay these people. The bank should have been responsible and withdrawn the money from the loan sharks. “It was either we buy it or the bank pays this money,” he said.
“I haven’t taken anybody’s money.”
Defendant Ali Yoruk said in his defense that he was one of the true victims of the case and asked to be released from the court, while a tearful Cecil Erzan intervened, saying: “This is what I am talking about. I have not taken anyone’s money. I hope this money is found.”
The decision was made to continue their detention.
The court issued an interim decision, deciding to continue the detention of defendants Cecil Erzan and Ali Yoruk.
The decision was made to have Fatih Terim ready for the next session.
The committee decided to give all the newly added complainants on the file, including Fatih Terim, time to attend the next hearing, and to forcibly take them in if they were not ready.
The court also ruled to reject requests to hear Hakan Ateş and Mehmet Aydıdu as witnesses on the grounds that they did not have clear information about the file, and also ruled to force the bringing in of witnesses who are not currently working for the court. The bank postponed the hearing to September 20.
