Turkish court slaps 10 with jail terms over FETO links

By Selcuk Karadag

ESKISEHIR, Turkey

A Turkish court on Saturday sentenced 10 members of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) to as much as nine years in prison, according to a judicial official.

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

The official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, said the 2nd Heavy Penal Court in the central Eskisehir province jailed four of 31 defendants.

Orhan Durmaz was sentenced to nine years in prison, Dursun Karatas, to six years and three months and Hasan Bayraktar and Omer Kirnic to seven years and six months.

Six of the remaining 27 defendants, who are at large, have also been sentenced to jail terms.

Nafir Yafay, Tenzile Karatas and Ceylan Sariyer each received sentences of six years and three months in prison. Yasin Sariyer was sentenced to four years and two month, Kamil Bayraktar to three years and one month and Emine Kirnic to 25 months.

The other 21 suspects were released by the court.

Moreover, four suspects were remanded in custody across Turkey as part of the investigation into FETO/PYD.

According to the governorate of northwestern Balikesir province, three suspects were remanded in custody as part of the investigation.

Another suspect was remanded in custody in southwestern Mugla province for his alleged links to the FETO.

Moreover, 58 suspects were arrested during anti-terrorism operations across Turkey for their alleged links to the FETO/PDY.

As part of the investigation by Izmir prosecutors, 55 suspects were arrested in simultaneous operations throughout the province.

In the northwestern province of Balikesir, three suspects, including two senior sergeants, were also taken into custody as part of the investigation.

Turkey 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.

* Seyhan Kirici contributed this story from Balikesir, , Sabri Kesen from Mugla, Safak Yel and Ahmet Bayram from Izmir