Singer İlyas Yalçıntaş freed after four months: "I used drugs, supplied no one"

Singer İlyas Yalçıntaş, arrested in July as part of a drug investigation involving celebrities, was released under a monthly sign-in condition at the first hearing of his trial on charges of "trafficking or supplying drugs or stimulants." Prosecutors are seeking at least 10 years in prison; the hearing was adjourned until December 15.

Singer İlyas Yalçıntaş was released at the first hearing of his trial on charges of "trafficking or supplying drugs or stimulants." The Istanbul 19th High Criminal Court ordered Yalçıntaş, who had been in custody for about four months, to be released under judicial control requiring him to sign in once a month. The well-known singer will continue to stand trial without being detained.

Yalçıntaş was detained in July as part of a drug investigation involving celebrities, based on intelligence work by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command and allegations that well-known figures used and shared drugs. Four of the 24 people detained in the investigation were arrested, including Yalçıntaş.

Şarkıcı İlyas Yalçıntaş

Indictment seeks at least 10 years in prison

An indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in October sought a prison sentence of at least 10 years for Yalçıntaş. The indictment states that a THC metabolite derived from cannabis and cocaine were detected in the singer's blood and hair samples, while two grinders, a precision scale and a jar containing plant fragments were found during a search of his home. After accepting the case, the Bakırköy High Criminal Court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction because the defendant's address was outside its jurisdiction and sent the file to the Istanbul 19th High Criminal Court.

"Rats crawled over me in prison"

Defending himself at the hearing, Yalçıntaş denied the charge of trafficking. "I used drugs before, but I did not supply drugs to anyone or use them with other people," the singer said. He said he used cannabis alone at home and cocaine "six months ago in England," but was not a user. Yalçıntaş said he used the precision scale found at his home to weigh food for fitness purposes, claimed that messages with his assistant concerned buying tobacco, and said the word "box" referred to a mailbox. Describing the harsh conditions in prison, Yalçıntaş said, "Rats crawled over me," and asked to be acquitted and released.

A gendarmerie noncommissioned officer who took part in the search testified as a witness. The witness said he did not know the defendant and had no information that he used or supplied drugs. The prosecutor requested that the witnesses be heard, incomplete evidence be collected and Yalçıntaş remain in custody. The court panel ordered the outstanding matters to be addressed alongside its release decision and adjourned the hearing until December 15.

Photos: Ülke TV, social media

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Singer İlyas Yalçıntaş freed after four months: "I used drugs, supplied no one"