Turkey: Dozens held in probe into FETO-linked Bank Asya

By Halil Demir and Filiz Kinik

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish police arrested Friday at least 42 suspects as part of an ongoing investigation into Bank Asya, an Islamic lender affiliated with Fetullah Terrorist Organization.

Arrests came after Istanbul's Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for 78 suspects including former executives of the bank, which was allegedly used by the terrorist group to transfer money -- collected as charitable donations from followers of FETO-leader Fetullah Gulen -- to organizations in the U.S, according to a police source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The suspects, who were arrested in Istanbul-based operations launched in seven provinces by Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit, are accused of being members of and financing a terrorist organization, the source said.

Operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining 36 suspects.

Bank Asya's banking license was cancelled on July 22, 2016 -- seven days after the failed coup bid -- by Turkey’s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK). The banking watchdog had ruled for the complete takeover of all shares of the Islamic lender by the state-run Savings Deposit Insurance Fund in May 2015.

Turkey accuses FETO of having plotted the deadly July 15 coup attempt last year as well as having led a clandestine parallel state to undermine the Turkish government.