Turkish singer Deniz Seki to spend 6 years in jail for drug dealing

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish pop singer Deniz Seki has been sentenced to six years, three months for drug dealing by the Specially Authorized Istanbul 9th High Criminal Court on Tuesday, May 22.

Immediately after the decision was announced Seki's lawyers stated that they will appeal the ruling.

The famous singer was jailed for 10 months in 2009 on the same allegations. Later in 2010, police recorded Seki's telephone conversations to find out whether she had been involved in selling drugs. The conversations revealed that Seki was in contact with Sinan Yüksel, who is among 19 suspects being tried for drug possession with the intent to sell.

According to the wiretapped conversations, Seki obtained the drugs from Yüksel. Furthermore, Seki's chauffeur, Mecit Çam, sometimes transported the narcotics Yüksel supplied to Seki.

When Seki was unable to afford the drugs, Yüksel would send them to her as a present. Seki and Yüksel developed a friendship after which the pop singer began to sell drugs to her friends, Today’s Zaman reported.