Court releases 15 more suspects in Turkey’s ‘post-modern’ Feb 28 coup case

ANKARA

The trial, in which the top army brass during the Feb. 28 military intervention are among the top suspects, started on Sept. 2. DHA photo

A Turkish court has released 15 more arrested suspects in the ongoing Feb. 28 trial. The case is looking into the infamous military intervention of Feb. 28, 1997, often described as a “post-modern coup,” which forced late ex-Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan to resign after a meeting of the National Security Council (MGK). The suspects have been released on probation pending the verdict of the trial, as well as having an international travel ban placed on them.

The released suspects include top figures such as the then-Land Forces Commander Şükrü Sarıışık and retired General Köksal Karabay. Other key suspects, such as former Gendarmerie Commander General Fevzi Türkeri, former Naval Forces Commander and former Air Force Commander General Ahmet Çörekçi were released during previous hearings in September and early October. 

A total of 103 suspects facing accusations of “overthrowing the Turkish government by force” are giving their testimonies to the court in the trial, which began Sept. 2. Only five suspects, including former generals Çevik Bir and Çetin Doğan, are still being tried arrested. 

In the final indictment sent to the court on May 22, the prosecutors designated former Prime Minister Tansu Çiller and former Interior Minister Meral Akşener as the leading victims in the case.

The then-Chief of General Staff, retired General İsmail Hakkı Karadayı, has been listed as the top suspect by the indictment.