16.05.2026 18:50
Retired driver Mehmet Ozkan, who provides VIP transfer services in the Serik district of Antalya, was attacked by his passenger, Lithuanian professional boxer Robertas Kotas, while driving. Stating that he was struck while at the wheel traveling at approximately 70-80 kilometers per hour and narrowly escaped death, Ozkan announced that he will take the matter to international human rights courts to have the attacker's license revoked.
Mehmet Özkan, a retired VIP transfer driver in the Serik district of Antalya, was attacked with punches by his passenger, Lithuanian boxing champion Robertas Kotas, while driving at 80 km/h. Stating that he escaped death in the argument that broke out over phone charging, Özkan announced that he would take the case to international human rights courts to have the professional athlete's license revoked.
ENTERED THE TOURISM SECTOR AFTER RETIREMENT
The incident occurred yesterday at around 21:00 in the Serik district of Antalya. According to the information obtained, Mehmet Özkan, who worked as a VIP transfer driver with his own vehicle in the tourism sector after retiring, picked up Lithuanian tourist Robertas Kotas from a hotel upon his company's direction.
While driving, Kotas, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, left his phone on the right seat and asked driver Özkan to charge it. Due to the crowded road and not fully understanding the customer's request, Özkan could not plug the phone in to charge. It is claimed that the angered Lithuanian tourist then began punching Özkan in the head inside the moving vehicle.
ATTACKED AT THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT 80 KM/H
Describing the horrifying moments he experienced, Mehmet Özkan said:
"At that moment, I was going at around 70-80 km/h. I wanted to stop the car, but it was very difficult; the vehicle swayed left and right. I pulled over to the right and stopped. I wanted to get out to save myself, but since I couldn't unfasten the seatbelt, punches kept coming to my head. I took the seatbelt off my head and got out. Then he opened the back door, came to the front, grabbed me by the collar, laid me on the ground, and started hitting me again."
In the incident, where other drivers around tried to intervene, Özkan escaped from the attacker and reported the situation to the police with difficulty using his mobile phone. Özkan, taken to Serik State Hospital by health teams dispatched to the scene, was kept under observation for 4 hours and received a medical report for assault.
LEARNED THE ATTACKER WAS A BOXING CHAMPION FROM THE POLICE
Stating that police officers showed him a photo of the attacker while he was being treated in the hospital, Özkan said, "When the police said 'You're lucky to have survived; this man is a boxing champion,' I was shocked. I thank God, I escaped death. I gave my wife money to give alms for my survival. We treat foreign tourists so well; we don't deserve this treatment."
"I WILL GO TO AN INTERNATIONAL COURT, I WILL HAVE HIS LICENSE REVOKED"
Özkan, stating that the attacker Robertas Kotas indirectly admitted his guilt by saying "I gave him my phone to charge" in his police statement, emphasized that he would not let the matter go. Reminding that professional athletes cannot use violence against civilians, Özkan said, "I will file a complaint with an international human rights court regarding this matter. I will have his license revoked."
"THE DAMAGE HE TOOK SHOWS HE IS A PROFESSIONAL BOXER"
Mehmet Özkan's lawyer, Cemal Karaca, stating that the legal process will be followed meticulously, said, "We will ensure justice is served. The severe damage my client suffered already clearly shows the attacker is a professional boxer. We will bring this to court as a qualified element and aggravating factor during the trial."
The judicial investigation launched into the incident continues.