The defendants who slapped the former president of Sakaryaspor and recorded it appeared before the judge.

Former Sakaryaspor Club President Gökhan İn was assaulted by the club's former advertising and sponsorship officer H.C.Ş., and the footage of the incident became a hot topic on social media. As a result of the work carried out by the Sakarya Public Security Branch Directorate teams, H.C.Ş., who slapped Gökhan İn, and S.İ., who recorded the incident, were caught and taken into custody. After their procedures at the police station, the two individuals were arrested and sent to prison for the crime of "Attempted Robbery," while the suspect S.İ. was later released.

Regarding the incident in question, Gökhan İn went to the Sakarya Courthouse and filed a complaint against H.C.Ş., who slapped him, and S.İ., who recorded the incident. The 7-page indictment prepared by the Sakarya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was accepted by the 2nd Heavy Criminal Court. In the indictment, the suspects H.C.Ş. and S.İ. are facing sentences ranging from 2 years and 6 months to 11 years and 3 months for the crime of "Attempted Qualified Robbery," from 1 year to 3 years for the crime of "Recording Personal Data," and from 2 years to 4 years for the crime of "Illegally Providing or Obtaining Personal Data." The defendants appeared before the judge today at the 2nd Heavy Criminal Court. The hearing was attended by the detained defendant H.C.Ş., the non-detained defendant S.İ., the complainant Gökhan İn, and the lawyers of the parties.

"WE DECIDED TO MAKE A STAGED VIDEO"

The detained defendant H.C.Ş., whose defense was taken, stated, "On the day of the incident, I drank alcohol due to excessive pressure and stress. We went for a sponsorship meeting with Gökhan İn, but it did not yield positive results. Then we went to a café and discussed the club's situation. Due to the financial difficulties and the pressure on us, we decided to make a staged video. Later, the incident mentioned in the indictment occurred. Gökhan İn consented to the video being recorded. Due to the pressure from the fans, we staged it as if the complainant would pay the debt. It was a staged video that we decided on that moment. During the investigation phase, I was under immense pressure, which is why I did not mention that it was staged. There is definitely no third party involved in the incident. There is no third party who directed or incited us for this incident. I do not remember whether the defendant S.İ. sent me the video. Even if he did, I would not keep it on my phone; I would delete it. I did not act with the intent to rob. I did not share the video. The complainant did not run again of his own free will; the video shot has nothing to do with his candidacy," he said.

"GÖKHAN İN ALSO CONSENTED"

The non-detained defendant S.İ. stated that he went to the café at the invitation of the detained defendant H.C.Ş., saying, "I had no prior knowledge of the video and staging; it all developed at that moment. H.C.Ş. asked me to record the video. Gökhan İn also consented to the recording of the video. The fan groups were constantly threatening the board of directors. I sent the video to the defendant H.C.Ş. and did not send it to anyone else. I even showed the complainant that I deleted it. I do not know how the video spread. The video was entirely a decision made at that moment. There is no third party who forced or directed us to record the video. The police pressured me a lot, and later I explained that the incident was staged. I did not act with the intent to rob," he said.

The complainant Gökhan İn stated that he learned about the 150,000 lira debt issue during the incident, saying, "While returning from the sponsorship meeting, the defendant H.C.Ş. said that my life was in danger due to the press statement I made. The defendant H.C.Ş. psychologically prepared me for the incident. I said, 'If such a video is to be recorded, just kill me.' I do not know exactly why the video was recorded. The video was made to prevent me from being president. The video is definitely not staged; I was forced to record it. I am only complaining about the defendant H.C.Ş.," he stated.

WITNESSES WERE HEARD

During the hearing, witnesses were heard regarding the 150,000 lira debt and the slap incident involving a football player. Witness B.T., who stated that he requested the 150,000 lira for himself, said, "I have no information about the incident; I learned about the video on social media. I took the debt from S.D. for myself. It has nothing to do with the club," while witness football player S.D. stated, "I had given 150,000 lira to B.T. for himself. He first said it was for himself, then for the club. I did not mention it to anyone, but it was learned," he expressed.

The public prosecutor, expressing his opinion, requested the continuation of the defendant's detention and a time extension to prepare the indictment. The court panel ruled for the continuation of the defendant's detention and for the case file to be sent to the public prosecutor for the preparation of the defense on the merits, and adjourned the hearing.