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Fenerbahce President Saadettin Saran was questioned by authorities on Saturday following his return from abroad, as part of a high-profile narcotics investigation involving several public figures in Türkiye.
As part of the investigation, which has already led to multiple arrests including Haberturk TV’s editor-in-chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy and anchor Ela Rumeysa Cebeci, prosecutors are examining whether Saran facilitated the use of illegal drugs and was involved in their procurement, based on certain pieces of evidence under review.
On Friday, he was formally summoned for questioning by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities also carried out a search at his residence.
Saran’s lawyer said the club president had traveled to Italy for a basketball game and transfer negotiations, and upon learning about the legal proceedings, he booked the earliest available flight back to Türkiye.
Saran’s flight landed at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport at 00:50 a.m. local time (GMT+3), where he was met by club executives and a group of Fenerbahce supporters. Fans gathered at the terminal exit, chanting slogans such as "Stand tall, Fenerbahce is with you."
Upon his arrival, Saran stated that he was not avoiding justice and would fully cooperate with investigators.
His questioning at the Istanbul Courthouse in Caglayan lasted approximately two hours. He was then transferred to the Council of Forensic Medicine to provide blood and hair samples, which are expected to be used in the broader forensic evaluation.
Once the procedures are completed, Saran is scheduled to return to the courthouse for further steps.
Sadettin Saran is a Turkish-American businessperson who owns Saran Holding, a conglomerate operating in the media, defense, and aerospace industries.
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