Renowned Turkish soccer coach Fatih Terim has offered testimony, shedding mild on his involvement as a sufferer in what’s publicly often called the “high-profit secret fund” rip-off.
Terim’s testimony was recorded on the Bodrum Courthouse by the Bodrum Heavy Penal Court as a part of an ongoing trial at Istanbul’s forty first Heavy Penal Court.
Fatih Terim revealed in his testimony that he turned acquainted with Seçil Erzan, the important thing determine within the case, in 2016 or 2017 by means of Denizbank, the place he was handled as a particular buyer.
The introduction got here from Denizbank’s then-General Manager, Hakan Ateş, a detailed acquaintance of Terim.
Ateş was somebody Terim considered a pal, a visitor in his house, and a trusted affiliate till the fraud case got here to mild.
“After these incidents, I severed all ties with him,” Terim said, highlighting that the financial institution’s high administration, together with Ateş, was answerable for appointing Erzan as his personal banker and overseeing her operations.
Routine turns nightmare
Over the years, Terim had grown accustomed to having bank-related paperwork introduced on to him for signing, whether or not at his house, coaching amenities and even earlier than worldwide journey.
This belief prolonged to Erzan, who often introduced paperwork to Terim, usually signing with out hesitation.
“She would sometimes come to Florya, sometimes to my home, and I would sign the documents without even reading them. There were times when cash was delivered to the airport at my request,” Terim mentioned, emphasizing the deep belief he had positioned in his personal banker.
Loyalty exploited
Terim’s testimony took a sobering flip as he recounted how he by no means questioned Erzan’s intentions, particularly when she advised that his funds mustn’t go to waste and needs to be invested correctly. “When she said, ‘You haven’t touched this money in the bank this month, let’s make use of it,’ I didn’t suspect anything. I trusted her,” he mentioned.
However, it later turned clear that Erzan had by no means knowledgeable him about any particular fund or promised excessive returns.
She solely talked about that the cash could be positioned within the financial institution’s custody accounts, which Terim now understands by no means occurred.
The former coach of the Turkish nationwide soccer group additionally realized, a lot to his dismay, that Erzan had been utilizing his title with out his information to solicit funds from others, together with shut household buddies.
“I later found out that she asked for money from many people around me without my knowledge. She even tried to get more from some. These are things I discovered much later,” Terim mentioned.
Despite being approached by a number of people relating to Erzan’s credibility, Terim persistently vouched for her, unaware of the online of deceit that was being spun round him.
Shocking revelation
Terim described a pivotal second in April 2023 when his former gamers, Emre Belözoğlu and Arda Turan, knowledgeable his spouse concerning the ongoing state of affairs.
On April 8, 2024 Terim and his spouse visited the financial institution, anticipating a routine assembly with Ateş, solely to be confronted by the complete higher administration group.
“They asked if I had suffered any losses. I told them I didn’t know yet, as I hadn’t conducted a damage assessment. Arda and Emre never said they sent money to Erzan on my recommendation. Anyone claiming otherwise is lying,” Terim mentioned, firmly dismissing rumors that he had directed anybody to spend money on the fraudulent scheme.
Aftermath, ongoing struggles
As the investigation unfolded, Terim discovered vital discrepancies in his accounts, revealing a considerable shortfall between the funds he had deposited and withdrawn.
“A bank employee informed me via SMS that I should have around $3 million in a custody account. But later, Denizbank told me that such an account didn’t exist,” Terim mentioned, underscoring the extreme monetary and emotional toll this incident has taken on him.
“I trusted a bank and its manager. One used my money, the other my reputation,” Terim mentioned, noting that the harm to his status was simply as devastating because the monetary loss.
Fatih Terim stays resolute in his pursuit of justice, stating that the reality should come to mild, whatever the private value.
He emphasised that essentially the most essential concern for him is the misuse of his title and the try to divert public consideration by means of this scandal.
Terim additionally addressed rumors of his alleged shut relationship with Erzan, clarifying that whereas he trusted her along with his funds, their relationship remained strictly skilled.
He famous that he attended her engagement to his former lawyer as a visitor however at all times maintained a respectful distance.
“This has been incredibly difficult to endure in silence, but my faith in the legal system compelled me to remain quiet until now,” Terim concluded, expressing his frustration and the challenges he has confronted whereas ready for justice.
The indictment ready by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office paints a damning image of Seçil Erzan’s actions.
As a department supervisor at a financial institution in Levent, she is accused of taking $2 million from complainant Bülent Çeviker, promising excessive returns primarily based on private belief.
When Çeviker could not attain Erzan, he reported the problem to the financial institution, resulting in an inner investigation and a prison grievance towards her.
Erzan allegedly satisfied varied purchasers, together with athletes and business individuals, to spend money on a non-existent high-return fund by falsely claiming that notable figures like Fatih Terim and Hakan Ateş had been concerned.
The indictment reveals that Erzan created pretend paperwork, full with financial institution stamps and signatures, to deceive her victims.
Prosecutors are searching for a jail sentence of 93 to 305 years for Seçil Erzan on prices of forgery and aggravated fraud dedicated throughout her managerial duties.
Co-defendants Ali Yörük, Kerem Can, Hüseyin Eligül, Nazlı Can, Atilla Yörük, and Asiye Öztürk face sentences starting from 3 to 98 years on comparable prices.
Another defendant, Rüya Sağır, can also be going through as much as 10 years in jail for aggravated fraud.
Terim has expressed his opposition to the potential use of leniency provisions for Erzan and Sağır, emphasizing his want for full accountability on this case.
Source: www.dailysabah.com