17.12.2025 15:50
A statement has been made by the lawyers Mert Öcel and Cem Uysaler regarding Mert Hakan Yandaş, who was arrested as part of a betting investigation. They stated, "The lynch campaign being conducted against a person who has not yet been tried and whose guilt has not been proven is a clear violation of the presumption of innocence guaranteed by the Constitution."
Lawyers Mert Özel and Cem Uysaler have issued a written statement regarding Fenerbahçe football player Mert Hakan Yandaş, who was arrested as part of a betting investigation.
It was stated that "The lynch campaign conducted against a person whose guilt has not yet been proven and who has not yet been tried is a clear violation of the presumption of innocence guaranteed by the Constitution." The statement also noted, "The income our client has obtained within the scope of sports activities has been misrepresented to the public in an unrealistic manner, even expressed in hundreds of millions of lira, by associating it with betting."
Additionally, the statement included, "Our client has clearly recorded his loyalty and belief in his emblem by stating, 'Fenerbahçe always wins, regardless of who the opponent is; this is not even a matter to be bet on.' Strangely, the parts that demonstrate our client's unwavering loyalty to Fenerbahçe have been deliberately edited out and hidden from the public."
HERE IS THE STATEMENT MADE
"The investigation process conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding our client Mert Hakan Yandaş is ongoing, and the legal procedures are being meticulously followed by us. The lynch campaign conducted against a person whose guilt has not yet been proven and who has not yet been tried is a clear violation of the presumption of innocence guaranteed by the Constitution. It has become necessary to make a statement regarding these matters.
Despite the existence of a confidentiality order in the investigation file, the leaking of the contents of the file to the press is unacceptable. These leaks are not made to ensure justice; rather, they are intended to declare our client guilty in advance and to create a perception. Furthermore, the sharing of our client's private correspondence, taken out of context, constitutes a clear violation of the provisions on Violation of Privacy and Illegal Disclosure or Acquisition of Data. This attitude, which disregards the presumption of innocence, has exceeded legal boundaries and has turned into an assassination of reputation. So much so that even the income our client has obtained within the scope of sports activities has been misrepresented to the public in an unrealistic manner, even expressed in hundreds of millions of lira, by associating it with betting.
The truly significant point that is intended to be overlooked by the public is this: Those who have turned our client's most private correspondence into tabloid material have ignored the most critical and character-revealing statement in his expression.
In his statement, our client has clearly recorded his loyalty and belief in his emblem by stating, 'Fenerbahçe always wins, regardless of who the opponent is; this is not even a matter to be bet on.' Strangely, the parts that demonstrate our client's unwavering loyalty to Fenerbahçe have been deliberately edited out and hidden from the public. The fact that only the parts that would create a negative perception have been highlighted while this clear stance in favor has not been publicized clearly reveals the intent of the operation being conducted.
We hereby inform that all legal rights of our client will be exercised against all individuals and institutions that violate the confidentiality of the investigation and attack our client's personal rights. We firmly believe that the material truth will emerge as a result of the investigation to be conducted."