05.05.2026 14:44
Halil Dinler, the owner of a wedding hall in Istanbul who was sued over allegations of a hidden camera in the dressing room used by female employees, was acquitted in the trial. The expert report stated that the cameras were used for security purposes and did not constitute a criminal element. According to the allegations, after the incident, some individuals reportedly demanded 3 million lira from the wedding hall owner, H.D.
The owner of the wedding hall, Halil Dinler, who was tried on allegations that a hidden camera was found in the dressing room used by female employees in Sultangazi, was acquitted.
HIDDEN CAMERA FOUND IN THE CHANGING ROOM
The incident occurred on November 28, 2025, in the Uğur Mumcu neighborhood of Sultangazi. A hidden camera was found in the dressing and changing room for employees of a wedding hall during the evening hours. Female employees, suspicious of the hall owner Halil Dinler frequently entering the room recently, discovered the camera placed inside the ventilation section during a search. After the employees reported the situation to the police, teams arrived at the hall and examined the camera setup. Although the hall owner, H.D., claimed he placed the camera to prevent theft of clothes, it was determined that the camera only showed the area where employees changed, and the clothes were kept in locked lockers. Halil Dinler was taken into custody and a lawsuit was filed against him for 'violation of privacy and sexual harassment.'
EXPERT REPORT DETERMINED NO ELEMENT OF CRIME
In the expert report submitted to the court, it was stated that the cameras were security cameras and the recordings did not constitute an element of crime. The report also indicated that no inappropriate images were found as alleged. After evaluating the report, the court decided to acquit the wedding hall owner, Halil Dinler.
ORGANIZATION IMAGES FOUND IN EXAMINED RECORDS
It was stated that the hard drive and camera records examined as part of the investigation contained images from wedding and henna night organizations.
MOMENTS THEY DEMANDED 3 MILLION LIRA ON CAMERA
Following the incident, a phone conversation of one of the three complainants demanding 3 million lira from Dinler's relatives was recorded. In the audio recording included in the case file, the hall owner's sister-in-law, Şehzade Dinler, is heard speaking with someone requesting 3 million lira. When Dinler stated she did not understand the amount, the other person mentioned that lawyers could get involved. The other person is heard saying, "We had said 3 million, but I think the lawyers will discuss it later." When Şehzade Dinler responded, "I don't understand these amounts," the person on the phone replied, "Sister, then call your lawyer."
"AFTER FIRING THEM, THEY SAID 'YOU WILL SEE'"
Halil Dinler said, "I have been a tradesman here for 35 years. They played with my pride and honor just for money. There are audio recordings and videos proving the other party demanded money. The place they accused me of under the name 'changing room' is actually a storage area for 65-70 types of organizational materials. We placed a camera from the ones on the right and left of the hall into this storage, but since it was glass, we couldn't mount it; I squeezed it between the ventilation sheet. The bridesmaids who had been working with us for 3 months set up this setup. I argued with them because they smoked, and they asked for a raise; I didn't give it and fired them. They set up this trap after being fired. As they left, they threatened me by saying, 'We know what we are doing, you will see.' The next day, I encountered this incident. Police came in the evening; I went with them. Half an hour later, they also reported my guns. Thinking nothing would come of this, the same people reported me to satisfy their grudge, saying 'Let him rot in prison.' Both of my guns were taken by the police. I was arrested for both the gun issue and this incident; I spent 5 months in prison. Together with my lawyer, we decided to file a compensation lawsuit against them. We were experiencing theft in this storage because we kept important materials there. It had been just 3-5 days since we installed this camera. This inactive camera was reported by the bridesmaids, who hid it behind with their own hands; they removed the camera and called it a 'hidden camera.' My sister-in-law manages the hall. I am a contractor; this is not my profession. My wife, sister-in-law, and children work here. I never imagined such a situation would occur."
"EXPERT REPORTS PROVED MY INNOCENCE"
Dinler stated, "The fact that the police came during the wedding hour shows this was a setup. When the police arrived, they couldn't find the camera; the bridesmaids took and hid it. My sister-in-law found it behind the cabinet 2-3 days later. I was imprisoned, and I am victimized. Who will compensate for my loss? They played with my pride and honor. My shop has been closed for 5.5 months; I am very victimized. Wedding programs were canceled by customers; I am suffering both financially and morally. I also spoke with the municipality; these expert reports came clean and proved my innocence."
"THIS SETUP WAS ONLY FOR MONEY"
Dinler said, "This setup was made by the bridesmaids solely for money. Two employees found their friend via a WhatsApp group. They said, 'Let's split this money three ways, and you also file a complaint.' A person I don't know and who never worked at my hall emerged. He also filed a complaint, but I was acquitted. This is a family business; we were victimized. I was victimized in every way."
"NO INAPPROPRIATE IMAGES OR VIDEOS WERE FOUND"
Dinler stated, "This camera was installed for security against theft and burglary. It is an inactive camera. It was placed as a deterrent so that people would see it and not steal. The prosecutor's office and the expert report determined that this camera was inactive and intended as a deterrent. They tarnished my business's reputation. It was one of the nicest halls in Sultangazi, preferred by many customers. It could be jealousy, or a setup by other halls that manipulated these individuals; that's possible. In the recording device that had been recording for 3 months, the expert investigation found pictures and videos of wedding and henna night organizations. No other inappropriate images or videos were ever found. I was tried for these two cases, and I was acquitted in both. Thank God, we are clean with our heads held high. Our wedding hall will open on Tuesday; we apologize to all our customers. They will see what is what and that everything has come to light."
"OUR WORKPLACE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR 5.5 MONTHS"
Şehzade Dinler, the wife of Halil Dinler's brother, said, "This is a family business. Halil Bey has a wife; I am the sister-in-law. We run this place as a family. Such an incident, any inappropriate thing, could never happen because we would never allow it. We were set up by the maidens who came from outside. Our workplace has been closed for 5.5 months. They had been working here for 3 months. We used to get dressed in that room as well. The maidens knew the camera was not active. He has his own child the same age as those girls. He is never that malicious. He treated them like his own children, in a fatherly manner. He never harbored such ill intentions," she stated.
"ASKED FOR 3 MILLION IN RETURN FOR WITHDRAWING THE COMPLAINT"
Dinler met with the person who filed the complaint twice. While the second meeting was captured on a mobile phone camera, Şehzade Dinler said about the meeting, "One of the maidens called me on December 9th and asked me for 3 trillion as a price for withdrawing the complaint; but I said I couldn't pay that much. This incident happened on November 26th; she called me on the 9th and asked for 3 trillion. I said I couldn't afford it. We talked, saying, 'You know very well that this camera incident isn't true.' Through my lawyer, I absolutely never agreed to such a thing. Since it's in court, I informed my lawyer. My lawyer transferred this audio recording to a CD and submitted it to the prosecutor's office. Our wedding venue will open on Tuesday. I am very excited and happy," she said.