Khaberni -The Criminal Court in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 23, 2025, delivered the verdict in the "false testimony" case involving well-known actors Khaled Argentch and Reza Koja Oglou, where suspended prison sentences were issued, with the execution of the sentence postponed based on the defendants’ clean criminal records.
In the session held at the Misdemeanor Court 24 in Istanbul, Khaled Argentch was sentenced to one year, ten months, and fifteen days in prison, while Reza Koja Oglou received a sentence of one year and eight months.
Postponement of the judgment and the origins of the case
However, the court decided to postpone the announcement of the judgment due to the lack of prior criminal records for the defendants, giving them an opportunity to correct their legal trajectory without immediately entering prison.
The roots of the case trace back to investigations involving the artistic director Aisha Barim, who was under the umbrella of accusations of planning protests that occurred in Gezi Park in Istanbul.
The actors were also summoned as witnesses in the case, where the prosecution accused them of providing false testimonies during the investigations, prompting the court to decide after prolonged hearing sessions.
Emergency surgery and testimony in court
Reza Koja Oglou, aged 46, underwent emergency surgery, preventing him from attending the last court session, and shared a video from the hospital room via his personal account, confirming the success of the operation and expressing his gratitude to all who supported him.
During the session, Khaled Argentch made his statements, affirming that he did not provide false testimony, and that his professional and social relationships differ from the perceptions that the accusations attempted to impose.
He clarified that the term "friendship" in the artistic field differs from real personal relationships, pointing out that he answered all questions with complete honesty, and requested his acquittal from the charges directed against him, based on the lack of sufficient evidence.
