By Kemal Karadag
ANKARA (AA) – A total of 2,327 defendants have been handed life sentences in cases related to the 2016 defeated coup by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Turkey.
According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from judicial sources, following the July 15, 2016 defeated coup chief public prosecutors carried out over 100,000 investigations.
Out of 289 cases, 270 of them completed, a total of 3,838 defendants were convicted.
The Turkish courts ordered aggravated life sentences for 1,224 convicts.
Among them were 71 former generals, 829 former officers, 173 former sergeants, 50 former specialized sergeants and four former police officers.
Separately, 1,511 convicts were handed down jail terms ranging from 14 months to 20 years, while some defenders were acquitted in nationwide cases.
The remaining cases continue in the capital Ankara, Istanbul, and seven other provinces.
In July this year, former Air Force Commander Gen. Akin Ozturk -- the key officer who plotted the coup inside the military -- Ahmet Ozcetin, Ali Osman Gurcan, Bilal Akyuz, Cemil Turhan, Erhan Caha, Firat Alakus, Hakan Evrim, Kubilay Selcuk, Mehmet Disli, Mehmet Partigoc, Omer Faruk Harmancik, Murat Kocyigit, Mustafa Baris Avialan, Orhan Yikilkan, Sinan Surer, and Muhsin Kutsi Baris received 141 times aggravated life sentences.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and some 2,200 injured.
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.
*Writing by Davut Demircan