Former Central Bank employees detained in anti-Gülen operation

ANKARA

At least 27 former employees of the Turkish Central Bank have been detained as part an investigation launched into alleged members of the movement of Fethullah Gülen, the main suspect behind the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, along with several others from the Public Procurement Authority (KİK). 

Detention warrants were issued by Ankara prosecutors for 36 former bank employees, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Feb. 10. 

The investigation was held by Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board, the news agency said.  

All suspects were suspended by the Central Bank or were sacked with state of emergency decrees. 

The Central Bank confirmed that none of the detained suspects were on active duty. 

“There are no links to activities in our bank,” a statement from the bank revealed on Feb. 10, refuting media reports. 

Six active employees of the KİK and one former employee were also detained.

According to Anadolu Agency, the suspects were allegedly users of ByLock, an encrypted smartphone app that came to prominence after it revealed Gülenists used it to plan the coup. 

All the detained suspects were taken to police headquarters in Ankara.


Gülen-linked schools abroad seized 

Education Minister İsmet Yılmaz said on Feb. 9 that Turkey’s Maarif Foundation, which is replacing Gülen-linked schools abroad, will become an international brand in global education.    
    
“We want the Turkish Maarif Foundation to become a global education brand. So, as the Turkish government, we will provide it all kinds of support,” Yılmaz told Anadolu Agency.

Turkey established the Maarif Foundation last year to lead a network of schools and education centers abroad.        
The foundation has already seized all education institutions affiliated with Gülen, taking control over 688 schools in 113 countries, Yılmaz said.    
    
The Gülenist movement, which is accused of running hundreds of schools, charity foundations and non-governmental organizations around the world, has been blamed by the Turkish government for attempting to oust the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).