Sadettin Saran and Ela Rümeysa Cebeci were acquitted in drug case

Former Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran and television presenter Ela Rümeysa Cebeci were acquitted in the case in which they faced charges of “trafficking in or supplying narcotic or stimulant substances.” Istanbul’s 4th High Criminal Court ruled that the alleged offense had not been established for either defendant.

Former Fenerbahçe Club President Sadettin Saran and television presenter Ela Rümeysa Cebeci were acquitted in the case brought as part of a drug investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. At the end of the second hearing held today, Istanbul’s 4th High Criminal Court acquitted both defendants separately on charges of “trafficking in or supplying narcotic or stimulant substances.” DHA reported that the panel based its ruling on the conclusion that the alleged offense had not been established.

The indictment sought prison sentences of at least 10 years for both individuals. In its opinion on the merits presented during the hearing, the prosecution also requested that the defendants be punished for the offense. Cebeci attended the hearing as a defendant released pending trial, accompanied by her lawyers, while Saran, who had appeared before the court at the first hearing and was later exempted from attending subsequent sessions, was not in the courtroom.

Television presenter Ela Rümeysa Cebeci

Cebeci: “I did not obtain drugs from anyone”

Rejecting the charges in her defense, Cebeci said Saran had been in her life for many years, with part of that time spent as a romantic relationship and part as a friendship. Cebeci said the WhatsApp messages at the center of the investigation used “the language and humor of two people flirting and teasing each other,” arguing that the expressions in the messages referred to films they had watched together and their lines.

“I did not obtain drugs from anyone. I did not use them. No drugs were found in my home, on me, in my blood or in my urine,” Cebeci said, claiming that the positive result from her hair sample was caused by external contamination: “When my test came back positive, I was very surprised and investigated it. After my research, I realized that drugs had contaminated my hair.” NTV reported that Cebeci also said she had tried it only once abroad and did not know that it was a crime. She concluded her defense by saying, “I reject the charges and request my acquittal.”

Sadettin Saran at a press conference during his tenure as Fenerbahçe president

Saran: “The messages were a mix of jokes and banter”

At the first hearing on Oct. 27, Saran had also argued that the messages were intended as jokes. The businessman said, “I neither used anything nor gave anything to anyone, and I did not sell anything,” adding that nothing was found during searches of his home and garden. He said, “I am incredibly saddened and ashamed to be here.”

Proceedings began in December 2025

Cebeci was first detained and released on Dec. 5, 2025, in the investigation that also included figures from the media world. On Dec. 17, 2025, she was arrested on charges of facilitating drug use. After spending approximately four months in prison, Cebeci was released on April 24, 2026, under judicial supervision in the form of house arrest. Saran was detained in December after telephone messages between the two were added to the case file. He was Fenerbahçe president at the time and was released under judicial supervision and a travel ban. Saran later announced that he would step down, and Aziz Yıldırım was elected president at the club’s extraordinary elective general assembly held in June.

Photos: Social media

Sadettin Saran and Ela Rümeysa Cebeci were acquitted in drug case