Two footballers, former coach testify in luxury car smuggling probe

ISTANBUL

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Two Turkish professional footballers, Başakşehir club’s Emre Belözoğlu and Fenerbahçe’s Volkan Şen as well as former manager Tayfun Havutçu gave testimonies on May 25 in Istanbul as part of an ongoing probe into the illegal import of luxury cars, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Belözoğlu, Şen and Havutçu were called to the Istanbul provincial gendarmerie command to testify amid reports that they were offered luxury cars by phone for cheap prices from some individuals suspected of smuggling the vehicles from abroad. 

The gendarmerie have been calling in all individuals involved in buying cars from smugglers to testify, but the two footballers and the ex-coach reportedly did not accept buying the vehicles.   

Authorities reportedly detained a suspect, identified by the initials N.E., over allegations that he was the “gang leader,” and seized 21 luxury cars in the investigation. 

On May 23, prosecutors in the Istanbul district of Bakirköy issued arrest warrants for 46 suspects including the Fenerbahçe midfielder Ozan Tufan.  

Tufan was released following his testimony.