01.09.2026 17:01
The Antalya 35th Criminal Court of First Instance has ruled to arrest Arif Kocabıyık, who was found to have violated the judicial control measure imposed on him by attempting to flee abroad. After his procedures were completed, Kocabıyık was handed over to Edirne L-Type Closed Penitentiary Institution.
YouTuber Arif Kocabıyık, known for street interviews on social media, had a travel ban abroad under the charge of "insulting the President." Kocabıyık was caught during inspections at the Kapıkule Border Gate while trying to flee to Bulgaria by hiding under the trailer of a truck. Kocabıyık and the truck driver M. A. were detained. The two suspects were referred to the courthouse after their procedures.
STRIKING ANSWER TO THE QUESTION "WHERE WERE YOU GOING TO FLEE?"
While being referred to the courthouse, Kocabıyık answered journalists' question "Where were you going to flee?" with "Anamur." Kocabıyık and driver M.A. were taken to the prosecutor's office for questioning.
ARRESTED, PLACED IN EDIRNE PRISON
The Antalya 35th Criminal Court of First Instance decided to arrest Kocabıyık, who was found to have violated the judicial control measure imposed on him by attempting to flee abroad. Kocabıyık was handed over to Edirne L-Type Closed Penitentiary Institution.
HE WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE TRUCK TRAILER
Within the scope of the judicial process conducted by the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a search and inspection was carried out yesterday on the truck with license plate 42 BHK 513, which came to exit to Bulgaria from the Kapıkule Customs Area, and two people hiding under the truck trailer were detected during the control of customs enforcement teams.
The caught individuals were identified as Arif Kocabıyık and S. P. S., an Iranian national. It was determined that Kocabıyık, known publicly as a YouTuber, had a travel ban abroad under the crime of "insulting the President" regulated in Article 299/1 of the Turkish Penal Code, imposed by the Antalya 35th Criminal Court of First Instance.
It was assessed that Kocabıyık, whose measure was determined to still be in effect, had hidden under the truck trailer to cross into Bulgaria, and following the incident, judicial proceedings were initiated upon the instruction of the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Kocabıyık and truck driver M. A. were detained.
The foreign national was handed over to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management.