The request for the arrest of Serdar Ortaç and Mehmet Ali Erbil has been rejected.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation for the crime of "encouraging illegal gambling" on social media. In the ongoing investigation, the identities of 23 suspects, including social media influencers and some famous names, have been identified.

Among the suspects alleged to have appeared in illegal gambling advertisements are singer Serdar Ortaç, presenter Mehmet Ali Erbil, former football player Batuhan Karadeniz, social media influencers İbrahim Yılmaz, Muzaffer Zorbey Erkoçlar, Sefa Caner Sarıçam, and Russian and Turkish citizen Aleksander Mensikof.

In an operation carried out by the Istanbul Police Department, 16 of the suspects, including Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç, were detained. It was learned that 5 of the suspects are abroad, and efforts are ongoing to locate the other 2.

The 16 suspects, whose procedures at the police station have been completed, were referred to the courthouse after a health check. The court ruled for the arrest of 12 suspects, including Sefa Caner Sarıçam, Esma Sözen, Muzaffer Zorbey Erkoçkar, and İbrahim Yılmaz, while deciding to release 2 suspects, one of whom is under 18, under judicial control conditions.

HOUSE ARREST DECISION FOR ORTAÇ AND ERBİL

Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç were referred to the court with a request for arrest. At the courthouse, Ortaç and Erbil stated that they regretted their actions. The court decided to release Serdar Ortaç and Mehmet Ali Erbil under house arrest.

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE APPEALED

The prosecutor's office appealed against the release of Mehmet Ali Erbil and Serdar Ortaç under house arrest. The arrest of Erbil and Ortaç was requested.

APPEAL REJECTED

The request for the arrest of Serdar Ortaç and Mehmet Ali Erbil, against whom the prosecutor's office appealed the judicial control decision, was rejected.