Turkish actor Ufuk Bayraktar, best known for his role in the hit TV series Ezel, is facing a new criminal investigation after allegedly assaulting a shop owner in Istanbul’s historic Beyoğlu district.
According to Turkish media reports, Bayraktar attacked and threatened the shopkeeper after learning that the man had filed a complaint against him for disorderly conduct during a previous visit with friends.
A video of the incident surfaced online, showing parts of the altercation before police intervened and detained the 43-year-old actor.
Investigations revealed that Bayraktar had earlier caused chaos at a nearby restaurant, prompting the shop owner to file the initial complaint. The victim also claimed that this was not the first assault, accusing the actor of previous harassment, intimidation, and attempted extortion.
Bayraktar has been referred to court on charges of assault, threats, extortion, and insult. Judges, however, released him under judicial supervision, imposing a travel ban while the trial proceeds.
The incident adds to Bayraktar’s extensive criminal record, which runs parallel to his acting career.
In 2020, he was sentenced to nearly four-and-a-half years in prison for attacking a woman with a glass bottle and stabbing a man with a machete during a public altercation.
In 2018, he also served over six months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, claiming it was an inheritance from his father.
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