Over 80 'FETO businessmen' to stand trial in Istanbul

By Muhammed Enes Can, Mustafa Hatipoglu and Yunus Ege

ISTANBUL (AA) - A criminal court in Istanbul on Tuesday accepted an indictment against 86 suspected Fetullah Terrorist Organization-linked businessmen, who could face over 22 years in jail if convicted, according to a judicial source.

Out of the total suspects mentioned in the indictment, 30 are in custody while three others remain fugitives, the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, added.

Among the fugitives are Fetullah Gulen, the leader of FETO that the Turkish government blames for being behind the July 15 coup attempt; Rizanur Meral, ex-chairman of TUSKON -- the union of businessmen that was shutdown for its alleged affiliation with Gulen; and the union's Secretary-General, Mustafa Muhammet Gunay.

The indictment seeks three aggravated life imprisonment sentences each against Gulen, Meral and Gunay for “attempting to overturn the constitutional order”, “attempting to overturn Turkish parliament”, and “attempting to overturn the government of Republic of Turkey”; they also face between 15 and 22-and-a-half years for “establishing and organizing a terror group”, and also stand accused of “forging documents as part of terror crime”.

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office had filed the indictment at the port city’s 24th Criminal Court, which was rejected by the 23rd Criminal Court earlier for lack of evidence.

The other suspects also face imprisonment ranging from seven-and-a-half years to 15 years for “membership of an armed terror group”.

Suspects Ramazan Erdem, Serkan Ercan and Suleyman Tari face eight-and-a-half years to 18 years in jail for “forging special documents as part of a terror crime” and “membership of an armed terror group”.

According to Turkey’s 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.