13.03.2026 10:20
After the scandal regarding the meat in the stew distributed by the municipal soup kitchen in Mersin being from a racehorse, the owner of the horse broke his silence. Suat Topçu, the horse owner, stated that he donated his horse, which had ended its racing career, saying, "While trying to do good, we became a cause of evil. My mistake was donating it without completing the process."
An attention-grabbing statement has been made regarding the scandal that emerged when horse meat was found in the stew distributed to those in need at the municipal soup kitchen in Mersin. DNA analysis revealed that the meat belonged to a mare named Smart Latch, who has won three first places at the Adana Yeşiloba Hippodrome, while the horse's owner, Suat Topçu, broke his silence about the incident.
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"WE BECAME A CAUSE OF EVIL WHILE TRYING TO DO GOOD" Topçu expressed his deep sorrow over the incident, stating that they took the horse to the farm for breeding purposes after its racing career. He reported that during veterinary checks, it was discovered that there was a problem with the mare's uterus, and they were informed that it could not be used for breeding for this reason.
Topçu explained that they wanted to find a new owner for the horse and sent it to a farm in Osmaniye where people ride horses for hobby purposes through a transporter. He mentioned that he was contacted by the Agriculture Provincial Directorate's Equestrian Branch about 15-20 days ago, and after the incident, he gave an official statement and requested that those responsible be found.
Speaking to Milliyet and expressing his sadness about the events, Topçu said, “We became a cause of evil while trying to do good.”
"MY MISTAKE WAS GIVING IT AWAY WITHOUT COMPLETING THE TRANSFER" Topçu admitted that it was a mistake to give the horse away without completing its official transfer, saying, “My mistake was giving it away without completing the sale, that is, the transfer process. Let whoever is guilty be revealed.”
STATEMENT FROM MERSIN METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY In a written statement regarding the issue from the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, it was stated, "It has become necessary to make a statement regarding the news that has appeared in some media outlets about the meat purchases made for our soup kitchen. The meat supplies for our soup kitchen are procured through an open tender method in the form of chopped meat, and the company that won our municipality's tender is a firm that currently supplies meat to many public institutions and organizations as well as the private sector. The meat deliveries to our municipality are carried out in accordance with official inspection processes and applicable legislation. Meat purchases are made based on the Slaughter Report prepared under the supervision and approval of the veterinarian responsible for the slaughterhouse of the Agriculture District Directorate and under camera surveillance. After the allegations were brought to our attention on February 4, 2026, the process was re-examined; in addition to the existing documents, analysis results from the Mersin Food Control Laboratory Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have been requested for each purchase. The procurement process is conducted in accordance with official laboratory analyses. Our municipality prioritizes public health above all else and continues all its operations within the framework of relevant legislation and official inspections," it was stated.