04.08.2026 16:00
An indictment was prepared against the complainant suspect YY, who attacked Galatasaray footballer Lucas Torreira with punches in front of a hotel in Besiktas, seeking up to 5 years in prison on charges of "simple injury" and "threat in a chain-like manner".
An indictment has been prepared against complainant suspect Yusuf Yıldırım, who attacked Galatasaray footballer Lucas Torreira with punches in front of a hotel in Beşiktaş, seeking a prison sentence of up to 5 years in total for the offenses of "simple battery" and "threats in a chain" (successive threats).
The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that an investigation was launched upon the complaint of the complainant Lucas Torreira regarding the incident that occurred on May 12 in front of a hotel in Beşiktaş.
The indictment noted that in his statement, Torreira recounted that after playing tennis, while leaving the hotel with his friends and having his photo taken with someone, the suspect, who approached him and whom he thought also wanted to take a photo with him, suddenly punched him on the left side of his head.
The indictment stated that after the attack, complainant Torreira tried to protect himself, during which his driver Eray Saylan and his friend D.C. intervened to separate the parties, and the suspect fled the scene by getting into a taxi. It was also explained that Torreira stated he did not make any physical intervention against the suspect, filed a complaint, and the investigation was conducted within this scope.
''I BEGAN TO FEEL HATRED TOWARDS TORREIRA''
The indictment also included the statement of complainant suspect Yusuf Yıldırım. It was noted that suspect Yıldırım stated he had platonic feelings for İ.B., whom he said was a photographer, that there was a restraining order issued against him upon İ.B.'s request, and that approximately one year ago, after seeing photos shared on social media by İ.B. and Torreira, he began to feel hatred towards the footballer.
The suspect also admitted that he made posts about Torreira from his social media account, which he claimed to own.
Yıldırım stated that on the day of the incident, he learned the location of the hotel from Torreira's social media posts, and upon going to the hotel by taxi, he punched Torreira in the face once as soon as he saw him.
Yıldırım, who claimed that the people with Torreira then beat him, that the assault continued while he tried to flee by getting into a taxi, and that the battery ended when police arrived at the scene, also alleged that Torreira's driver Eray Saylan threatened him and that D.C., who was with the footballer, used Spanish expressions.
''I THREW A PUNCH TO PREVENT HIM FROM ATTACKING AGAIN''
In the indictment, suspect Eray Saylan, whose statement was included, said that during the incident, he saw Yusuf Yıldırım punch Torreira, that the footballer tried to protect himself, and that D.C. tried to block Yıldırım. He stated that he also punched Yıldırım to prevent him from attacking again.
In his statement, Saylan stated that Yıldırım later fled by taxi, and he believed the attack stemmed from his obsession with İ.B., Galatasaray's media officer.
In the indictment, D.C., against whom an additional decision of no further investigation was issued, recounted in his statement that while they were leaving the hotel after playing tennis, they initially thought Yıldırım, who approached them, wanted to take a photo, but the suspect suddenly attacked Torreira, upon which they intervened along with Saylan, and after the scuffle, Yıldırım fled the scene by taxi.
''MILD IN NATURE, RESOLVABLE WITH SIMPLE MEDICAL INTERVENTION''
In the indictment, which included the report obtained from the Forensic Medicine Institution, it was stated that the injuries of Lucas Torreira and Yusuf Yıldırım were mild in nature, resolvable with simple medical intervention.
The indictment noted that in the investigation report prepared by the Cyber Crimes Branch Directorate, it was determined that suspect Yusuf Yıldırım, through his social media account, used threatening expressions containing killing, harming, and revenge against Lucas Torreira in numerous posts made in January, February, April, and May 2026.
The indictment stated that suspect Yusuf Yıldırım went up to complainant Lucas Torreira and suddenly punched him, causing injury; consequently, Torreira's friend D.C. and his driver Eray Saylan intervened, and during the scuffle, Saylan also punched Yıldırım, causing injury, while Yıldırım fled the scene by taxi.
The indictment also assessed that suspect Yusuf Yıldırım's attack on Torreira constituted the offense of "simple battery," and his posts on his social media account on different dates constituted the offense of "threats" in a chain. It was also noted that the suspect admitted the charges against him in his statement.
The indictment stated that Eray Saylan's act of punching Yusuf Yıldırım and causing injury constituted the offense of "simple battery," and Saylan also admitted this act.
It was stated that Saylan, who has been working as Lucas Torreira's private driver for about 4 years, was assessed to have acted under the influence of fury and distress due to his close relationship with Torreira during the incident, and therefore, the provisions on unjust provocation should be applied to him.
The indictment noted that the case file was sent to a mediator for the offenses subject to reconciliation attributed to the parties, but no reconciliation could be achieved between the parties.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON
In the indictment, it was requested that complainant suspect Yusuf Yıldırım be sentenced to a total of 5 years in prison (from 1 year, 1 month, and 15 days) for the offenses of "simple battery" and "threats in a chain" against Torreira, and that suspect Eray Saylan be sentenced to 4 months and 15 days in prison for the offense of "simple battery under unjust provocation." The indictment was sent to the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance for evaluation.