7 soldiers detained for fraud

Özgür Ekşi ANKARA

Seven active-duty members of the Turkish Land Forces, including noncommissioned officers and special sergeants, have been detained and sent to Ankara as a part of a fraud investigation, the Hürriyet Daily News learned yesterday.

Four other soldiers, whose ranks could not be obtained, are also in custody, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

The soldiers brought to Ankara were accused of bribing four soldiers, who work at the directorate of personal administration in Ankara responsible for soldier appointments to missions abroad. It has been learned that the accused allegedly paid bribes to be appointed to United Nation and NATO missions abroad by bypassing qualification prerequisites for the post.

Soldiers appointed to missions abroad are paid more than their colleagues working within the country.