Veyis Ateş released from custody in drug trafficking trial

Abdurrahman Veyis Ateş, the former General Manager of Habertürk TV, has been released from custody following his first hearing in a drug-related trial. Ateş had been detained since late December 2025, facing charges that included facilitating drug use and drug trafficking, with potential prison sentences of up to 40 years.

During the proceedings at the Istanbul 6th High Criminal Court, Ateş denied all allegations. He argued that the properties mentioned in the indictment did not belong to him and questioned why he would provide drugs to people he did not know. He also claimed that Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a former Habertürk editor and key witness, had apologized to him in prison, alleging that Ersoy's previous testimony was an attempt to avoid legal complications related to other investigations.

In a significant turn during the hearing, Ersoy, appearing via SEGBIS, provided testimony that diverged from his earlier statements. While he confirmed that Ateş had brought drugs to a gathering in 2019, Ersoy stated that he used the substance out of his own curiosity and that Ateş had not pressured or insisted that anyone else use it. The court has postponed the trial until November 27, 2026.