31.12.2025 08:25
It has been reported that Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the former Editor-in-Chief of Habertürk, who was arrested in a drug investigation, confessed to using drugs in his statement given under the scope of "effective remorse" and provided information about "drug parties" held in some houses. It was noted that his statement did not contribute to the investigation, and Ersoy was not released.
Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who was detained on December 9, 2025, as part of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's drug investigation targeting celebrities and subsequently arrested and transferred to Silivri Prison, applied to benefit from the effective remorse provisions. In a test conducted by the Forensic Medicine Institution, it was determined that Ersoy had used the drug 'cocaine'. In his first statement after detention, he denied using drugs and referred to the allegations of sex and drug parties as 'slander'. In a subsequent statement, Ersoy confessed to using drugs.
HE ADMITTED TO USING DRUGS
According to a report by Sabah, Ersoy applied to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office through his lawyer Hüseyin Kaya to benefit from the effective remorse provisions. Ersoy, who was arrested on December 11 on charges of "drug use" and "gaining benefit from sexual relations," was brought back to Çağlayan Courthouse 19 days later. Ersoy gave a statement to the public prosecutor conducting the investigation for about 3 hours. In his statement, Mehmet Akif Ersoy confessed to using drugs. He also provided information about drug parties and relationships held in the house he rented, requesting his release under the effective remorse law.
"HE FEELS GREAT REMORSE AND IS SORRY"
Ersoy concluded his effective remorse statement with the following words:
"Today, journalist Akif, as a human being, feels great remorse for what he has done to his human brothers, society, and his creator, and he is very sorry."
HE DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE INVESTIGATION
In the evaluation made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that "the information regarding Mehmet Akif Ersoy's drug use is confirmed by the report obtained from the Forensic Medicine Institution, and since it is known that he held parties in the rented house, his statement did not contribute to the investigation." After his statement, Ersoy was sent back to the prison where he was held.
WHAT HAPPENED?
As part of the 'drug' investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 8 people, including Habertürk's Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy, were detained on December 9. 4 of the suspects were released under judicial control on December 10. Mehmet Akif Ersoy, along with Mustafa Manaz, Ufuk Tetik, and Ebru Gülan, who were referred to the court by the prosecutor with a request for arrest, were arrested on December 11 on charges of 'facilitating drug use' and 'establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime.' The referral document stated that the suspects provided a place and means for drug use in their residences, supplied drugs to some individuals who came to the house, and that Ersoy allegedly gained 'sectoral and material benefits' during this process.
WHO IS MEHMET AKİF ERSOY?
Born on January 8, 1985, in Istanbul, Mehmet Akif Ersoy completed his studies at Istanbul University Faculty of Communication. He started working as a reporter at 6 News channel in 2009.
In 2011, he served as a TRT representative and war correspondent in Libya, Yemen, Damascus, and Erbil. In 2012, he became the TRT Cairo-Egypt Representative, and in 2013, he was appointed as the Deputy Coordinator of TRT Arabic. In 2014, he began working as the Deputy Regional Director of TRT Istanbul.
In 2016, Ersoy became the Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy Magazine. He started working at Habertürk in 2017. Following the detention decision, Ersoy was temporarily suspended from his position and had been serving as the General Editor of Habertürk TV since 2024.