Turkish ministry official in London recalled over İpek case

ANKARA

A Turkish justice ministry official at Turkey’s embassy in London has been called home over the extradition process of Akın İpek, which Ankara accuses of being a member of the illegal FETÖ.

The attaché was summoned home and faces an investigation over “improper paperwork” on the extradition of İpek, said state-run Anadolu Agency on Dec. 3.

“The post shared on social media allegedly sent by the justice ministry regarding FETÖ fugitive Akın İpek’s extradition process doesn’t reflect the truth,” the Turkish foreign ministry reportedly said in a statement.

“Our ministry sent proper documents to the British court on Sept. 13. We have ascertained that our official in London prepared a one-page information sheet on his own and sent it to the British Prosecutor’s office without ministry approval.”

“It’s clear that this information note, which was allegedly sent by our ministry and shared on social media accounts, didn’t correspond with the procedures for correspondence in our ministry and didn’t include any title, name, or signature,” it said.

“We launched a probe into our London attaché and summoned him to Ankara on Nov. 30,” it added.

On Nov. 28 a British court rejected Turkey’s request for extradition of three people accused of being members of the FETÖ, including İpek.