29.10.2026 17:56
Former Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran appeared before a judge at the first hearing of the case in which he is being tried on drug trafficking charges. At the hearing, Saran was asked about the words in the audio recording entered into the file: "We'll confirm on Sunday, do you have any of that?" Saran responded, "We had a pleasant night. There was wine. He drank a bit too much. Based on that, it was nonsense banter." The court removed Saran's obligation to attend hearings and adjourned the case to November 4.
The first hearing of the case in which former Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran and Ela Rümeysa Cebeci are tried on charges of 'trading in or supplying narcotic or stimulant substances' was held at Istanbul 4th High Criminal Court. Of the two individuals for whom imprisonment of no less than 10 years each is sought, Saran attended the hearing, while Cebeci did not come to court.
'DO YOU HAVE ANY OF IT?' QUESTION WAS ANSWERED
At the hearing, Sadettin Saran was asked about the statements in the audio recording included in the case file: 'We'll confirm on Sunday, do you have any of it?' Saran argued that the conversation in question was intended as a joke and said, 'We had a pleasant night. There was a wine. He drank a bit too much. Based on that, it was nonsense banter.'
'AM I ESCOBAR?' EXCHANGE ALSO ASKED ABOUT
In court, conversations between Saran and Ela Rümeysa Cebeci such as 'Am I Escobar? You pick from the branches you grew in the garden' and 'Okay, I'll find it' also came up. Regarding these statements, Saran responded: 'I said yes. I said something like 'Just come, we'll sort it out' for the sake of saying something. Believe me, there is nothing in the garden. They searched everywhere. I'm already a man who hasn't gone to the Netherlands to use it.'
'THEY WERE MESSAGES MIXING JOKES AND BANTER'
Saran said the messages between him and Ela Rümeysa Cebeci related to a film they watched together during their emotional relationship, and argued that the expressions in the messages did not concern a real drug supply. Saran said, 'These dialogues and messages were related to a film we watched together as a result of the emotional relationship that developed entirely between Ms. Ela and me. In these messages, there was banter along the lines of 'take it and come.' They were messages mixing jokes and banter.'
Rejecting the accusations, Saran used the expressions: 'I neither used it, nor gave it to anyone, nor sold it. If I did such cultivation, would I write this? It was completely a joke. Despite searches at my garden and house, nothing was found.'
'THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF CONTAMINATION'
When the presiding judge asked about the drug test being positive, Saran argued that the result might have stemmed from contamination through contact. Saran said, 'Today I also shook hands with at least 50-60 people. I am a person who likes shaking hands. We also consulted experts. It didn't appear in my urine anyway. It only appeared in my hair. There is a possibility of contamination. I would not lie in front of my daughter.'
'I FEEL SADNESS AND SHAME AT BEING HERE'
At the hearing, Saran stated that his monthly income was 6 million TL and also expressed the sadness he felt at appearing before the judge. Saran said, 'I feel incredible sadness and shame at being here,' reiterating that he did not accept the accusations against him.
WITNESS: I DID NOT SEE DRUGS AT HOME
Witness Hasan Dereci, heard at the hearing, said that he had a business relationship with Saran and took care of his garden. Noting that during the search at Saran's house he had gone to the summer house, Dereci said, 'I did not see anything planted in the garden. I absolutely did not see any drugs in the house either. I did not see them being used either.'
SARAN EXEMPTED FROM HEARINGS
After the defenses and the witness statement, the court panel announced its interim decision and removed Sadettin Saran's obligation to attend the hearings. The court ruled that Ela Rümeysa Cebeci be heard at the next hearing and that the judicial control measures in the form of a travel ban abroad continue. The next hearing of the case will be held on November 4.