Turkish actress Hande Ercel has denied any involvement in a drug-related investigation targeting celebrities, saying she was distressed to see her name linked to the case, Haberturk reports.
Ercel gave a statement to prosecutors after returning to Istanbul, where she had previously been abroad when a detention order was issued. The order was later converted into an arrest warrant before she presented herself to authorities.
She attended the Istanbul Justice Palace in Caglayan to give evidence and was subsequently referred for a drug test at the Forensic Medicine Institute. She was released following the procedure.
According to her statement, Ercel said she had only visited one of the venues mentioned in the investigation, the restaurant at Bebek Hotel, for work-related meetings.
Ercel Denies Nightlife and Party Links
The actress said she does not have a nightlife due to her busy schedule and rejected claims that she attended private parties reportedly organised by business figures.
«I did not attend any of the events mentioned in the media. I do not know the people alleged to have organised such parties, nor was I invited,» she said.
Ercel also denied ever using drugs, stressing that she has maintained a disciplined lifestyle throughout her career.
«I have never used drugs or stimulants at any point in my life. I am aware that I influence a wide audience and have always been careful about my way of living,» she said.
She added that she had never witnessed businessman Hakan Sabanci using drugs either.
Expressing regret over being named in the case, Ercel said she rejected the accusations and had always aimed to set a positive example and represent her country well abroad.
Hande Ercel, an actress and model, was born on November 24, 1993 in Bandirma. She first gained public attention in 2012 after placing second in a beauty pageant in Baku, before moving into a media career. Her acting debut came in 2013 with the series Tatar Ramazan.
She later rose to wider fame for her role as Eda Yildiz in the popular television series Love Is in the Air.
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