British court seizes passport of Turkish suspected coup figure

LONDON

Judging him a flight risk, a British court on July 19 confiscated the passport of a fugitive Turkish businessman wanted for suspected involvement in the July 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.

The passport of Hamdi Akın İpek, the former head of Koza İpek Holding, was confiscated to prevent him from leaving the U.K. during his judicial process, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkey’s extradition request for Ipek with the approval of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was previously submitted to British authorities.

After his arrest this May, İpek was released on £50,000 ($64,000) bail.

In Britain, extradition requests are referred to the court with the FCO’s approval.

If the court finds the arrest warrant and the extradition request proper, the court’s decision is also implemented with FCO approval.

İpek, accused of attempting to overthrow Turkey’s government and violate the Constitution by the Turkish government, faces up to two aggravated life sentences if convicted.

He is also facing 132 years in prison for setting up an armed terror group, military and political espionage, forging documents, and laundering money.

According to the Turkish government, the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and its U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen orchestrated the coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people dead and nearly 2,200 injured.