10 arrested in military espionage case in İzmir

İZMİR – Doğan News Agency

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A criminal court of peace in the Aegean city of İzmir has ruled for the arrest of 10 suspects in a “military espionage” case in which 13 people were charged with fabricating evidence. 

The İzmir public prosecutor had sent the 13 suspects, four of whom were security officials who exercised their right to remain silent, to court for arrest.

The Seventh Criminal Court of Peace in İzmir ruled for the arrest of 10 of the suspects, while the three others were released upon a judicial control decision. 

A detention warrant was issued for 25 suspects during İzmir-based operations across 14 cities against the so-called “parallel state structure.” The list of suspects included constables as well as employees of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK).

The indictment accused the suspects of intentional misconduct and aiming to purge suspects of state civil service and the Turkish Armed Forces through public defamation.

A total of 18 of the 25 suspects were detained, five of whom were later released. Seven suspects could not be apprehended, three of whom were reportedly in Russia and in the United Arab Emirates. 

Meanwhile, simultaneous operations were launched in northwestern Balıkesir province against members of what the authorities call the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ) on Dec. 7, during which 13 suspects were detained. 

Reports indicated the provincial directors of the Turkish Labor Agency (TÜRK-İŞ) and the Sports and Youth Services were among the suspects. 

The suspects were charged with the financing of a terror organization through misconduct in seven construction bids and a European Union-funded project.