Turkey: 2 top conglomerate execs detained in FETO probe

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish police arrested Thursday the top legal adviser and a former executive of one of Turkey's biggest conglomerates as part of a probe into the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, a security source said.

Dogan Holding's chief legal advisor Erem Turgut Yucel, and a former chief executive, Yahya Uzdiyen, were arrested in Istanbul in light of new evidence gathered in the probe, which on Dec. 1 led to the detention of the holding's Ankara administrative representative, Barbaros Muratoglu, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media.

Muratoglu was later remanded on Dec. 15 on charges of helping the FETO terrorist organization.

Following Thursday's arrests, Istanbul police searched Yucel's office and home, and seized eight USB flash drives, a mobile phone, a personal computer and a hard disk, while a mobile phone, a tablet and a personal computer have been seized in Uzdiyen's home.

According to Turkey’s government, U.S.-based FETO leader Fetullah Gulen masterminded a July 15 defeated coup in Turkey, which left 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

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

In the wake of the July coup attempt, tens of thousands of FETO suspects have been arrested, including many in the armed forces, police, justice system, and education sector.