Court sentences Sardor Ortaç to 10 months in gambling scandal

Turkish pop star Sardor Ortaç was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined 400 liras by Istanbul’s 25th Criminal Court of First Instance on February 25 for promoting illegal gambling, Türkiye Today reported.

The court suspended the execution of the sentence, granting Ortaç a suspended sentence. If he refrains from committing any further offenses during the probation period, the sentence may be canceled. However, if he violates the conditions, the full sentence will be enforced.

Prosecutors initially sought a prison term of up to three years for "illegal betting and promoting gambling." However, the court lifted the judicial supervision measures that had previously been imposed on the singer.

This case was part of a broader investigation into illegal gambling advertisements in Turkey. As a result of the investigation, Ortaç, along with actor Mehmet Ali Erbil, musician Zorbey Erkoc, blogger Ibrahim Yilmaz (with 19 million subscribers), Russian-Turkish blogger Alexander Mensikov, and Esma Sezen (1.3 million subscribers), had been placed under house arrest.

Following an appeal by Ortaç’s lawyer, the Istanbul High Criminal Court lifted his house arrest before the final verdict was issued.