09.07.2025 14:21
In the case involving 28 defendants, including Dilan Polat, who was arrested on charges of money laundering and faced up to 40 years in prison before being released, the court announced its interim decision. The court ruled to lift the trustee on the companies, deciding that the trustee would only be in a supervisory role. The hearing has been postponed to November 12.
Dilan and Engin Polat, along with 28 defendants, are being tried for 'Establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime', 'Money laundering of assets derived from crime', and 'Violation of the law on organizing betting and gambling in football and other sports competitions', with a request for imprisonment of 20 to 40 years. In its interim decision, the court had ordered the release of detained defendants Engin Polat, Sezgin Polat, Alper Kürşat Polat, and Ahmet Gün. Engin Polat, Sezgin Polat, Ahmet Gün, Can Polat, and the attorneys of the parties were present in the courtroom for the hearing held at the Anadolu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The hearing began with the secret witness being heard via SEGBİS.
"I AM A WITNESS THAT THEY WORKED TOGETHER"
The secret witness, whose voice was altered and heard via SEGBİS, stated, "I was involved in the illegal betting sector. As I mentioned to our first investigation prosecutor, we had acquaintances with Derkan Başer. I saw Engin Polat and Derkan Başer in Cyprus. I am a direct witness that they worked together. The Jasminbet site belongs to Derkan Başer. When Veysel Şahin was arrested, Derkan Başer took over the site. After 2018, Engin Polat and Derkan Başer started operating the betting site. In June 2018, Derkan Başer hosted me in Ukraine. When I went to Ukraine to see Derkan Başer, I witnessed his correspondence with Engin. I had also told our investigation prosecutor to examine Engin Polat. Derkan Başer is the owner of these operations. After 2018, Engin Polat worked together with Derkan Başer on external financing. External financing is more comprehensive. It is integrated into the betting site, and money is deposited into accounts through those accounts. I mentioned this because I know they worked together. I do not know the defendants mentioned in the file; I have not seen them. I only know Engin Polat. Engin Polat worked in collaboration. All the rises started after 2018. At the end of June 2018, I met with Derkan Başer in Ukraine. Engin Polat was not there. I met with Engin Polat in April 2017 in the upper floor of Veysel Şahin's office in Cyprus. After that, we did not have any face-to-face meetings. I am being heard in court for the first time. I am telling this for the first time. I can also present the correspondences I have. The reason I have kept the documents until today is that I wanted to mention them when I was heard in court. I do not use any social media accounts," he said.
"WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE STATEMENTS OF THE SECRET WITNESS"
In his defense against the secret witness's statement, Engin Polat said, "We do not accept the statements of the secret witness; they are all false accusations." Sezgin Polat also responded to the secret witness's statement in his defense, saying, "I do not accept the statements of the secret witness." The hearing was adjourned until 1:30 PM.
THE HEARING WAS POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 12
After the break, the hearing continued. The court, announcing its interim decision, ruled to lift the trustee on the companies, deciding that the trustee would only be in charge of supervision. Additionally, the court decided to continue the precautionary measure on the defendants' assets and ruled to lift the precautionary measures placed on the assets of the first and second-degree relatives of the defendants. The hearing was postponed to November 12.