Turkey issues arrest warrants for FETO fugitives

By Muhammed Enes Can, Murat Kaya and Murat Paksoy

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for two fugitive members of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

FETO members Osman Zeki Canitez and Aykan Erdemir who is also a former deputy of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) were charged for "stealing documents related to national security".

Canitez and Erdemir have been listed as witnesses in the case of Riza Sarraf, a Turkish businessman in the U.S. awaiting trial.

The fugitive suspects launched a so-called graft probe against top government officials on Dec. 17-25, 2013. The probe, including a large-scale raid and the detention of prominent figures, aimed to overthrow Turkey’s elected government.

In a statement the prosecutor's office said the fugitives submitted "so-called files" dated Jan. 28, 2014 from the probe to New York County District Attorney's Office as evidence in the Sarraf trial.

Sarraf and Turkish banker Mehmet Hakan Atilla were detained last year on charges of violating sanctions against Iran.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.

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.