High level FETO suspect remanded to custody in Turkey

By Zafer Fatih Beyaz and Serdar Acil

ANKARA

Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) linked fugitive suspect Birol Kurubas, who was the highest-level officer of the "imam” of contracted officers, has been remanded to custody, in Ankara, on late Friday.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

After July 15, Birol Kurubas' fingerprints were found during a police search of a villa, where FETO planned the coup attempt.

Adil Oksuz, a chief suspect in the coup, was also present at the villa during the discussions.

Oksuz, a fugitive FETO member, is believed the top second civilian of the coup attempt who was the Imam (leader) of the FETO network inside the Turkish air forces.

Birol Kurubas was arrested in Istanbul and brought to Ankara.

In his defense, during the trial in 5th Peace Court of Criminal Justice in Ankara, Kurubas said that he was involved in FETO, but he did not want to say anything.

The suspect has been sent behind the bars by the court.

Kurubas was among the suspects of the so-called "Peace at Home Council" established by the coup-plotters to replace the government.

He was accused of "attempting to abolish the constitutional order”, “being a member of an armed terrorist organization", "attempting to overthrow the Turkish Grand National Assembly" and "attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey”.

Other names attended the meeting in the villa were Bilal Akyuz, Mustafa Baris Avialan, Sinan Surer, Gokhan Sahin Sonmezates, Omer Faruk Harmancik, Turgay Sokmen, Firat Alakus, Ali Osman Gurcan and Murat Kocyigit.