In the case where the manager Ümit Akbulut and Sinan Siner, who allegedly defrauded the Dutch football player Gregory Kurtley van der Wiel, the former football player of Fenerbahçe, for 4.5 million dollars, the prosecutor’s office, separately from 5 years to 17 years 6 on charges of “multiple and chain fraud”. He wanted them to be sentenced to up to one month in prison.
Abide Gülel, the lawyer of Gregory Kurtley van der Wiel, attended the hearing at the Istanbul 19th High Criminal Court.
Explaining his opinion on the merits at the hearing, the Public Prosecutor stated that Wiel met with the defendants to receive consultancy services, and that the defendants introduced themselves as the owner of a hotel and the manager of world-famous boxer Floyd Mayweather.
In the opinion, it was explained that Akbulut received a total of 3 million 165 thousand dollars and 743 thousand euros by selling a villa to Wiel from the site, which was determined to belong to him, but did not have any shares.
In the opinion, where it was stated that the defendants did not accept the charges and said that they received money according to the contract, it was recorded that Wiel sent 3 million 165 thousand dollars and 743 thousand euros to the account of the defendants, although the amount in the contract was determined as 2 million dollars.
In the opinion, it was emphasized that the defendants, who also introduced themselves as the owner of a hotel, acted in unison of opinion and action.
In the opinion, it was requested that the two defendants be sentenced to prison terms from 5 years to 17 years and six months on charges of “multiple and chain fraud”.
In the opinion, it was also requested that the defendants be acquitted of the crime of “threat”. Asked what they would say against the prosecutor’s view, Wiel’s lawyers demanded that the defendants be punished.
The court adjourned the hearing to take the defense of the defendants and their lawyers against the opinion.
History of the case
Fenerbahçe’s Dutch football player Van der Wiel applied to the prosecutor’s office in 2017, claiming that he was defrauded and threatened by manager Ümit Akbulut for 4.5 million dollars. Acting on the complaint, the police detained Ümit Akbulut and Sinan Siner.
Akbulut and Siner, who were referred to the judge for their arrest on charges of “fraud and attempted looting”, were released after their interrogation by the prosecutor’s office.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against Akbulut and Siner on charges of “qualified fraud” and “threat”.