Ex-Istanbul police chief placed under house arrest

By Kaan Bozdogan, Murat Kaya, and Muhammed Enes Can

ISTANBUL (AA) - A former Istanbul police chief being probed for links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) was placed under house arrest on Tuesday after being released from jail, a judicial source said.

The Istanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court gave orders for the release of four former government officials, including Huseyin Capkin, said the source on condition of anonymity due to restriction on speaking to the media.

Three of the suspects, including a former Istanbul deputy governor, were released on judicial control, while Capkin was placed under house arrest, the source added.

Capkin had surrendered to police last June after a court issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged links to the FETO.

According to the Turkish government, FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup 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.