Travel ban issued for 28 over suspected links to key coup plotter: Report

ANKARA

Bans on traveling abroad have reportedly been issued for 28 people with alleged links to one of the key figures of the failed July 2016 coup attempt, widely believed to have been masterminded by the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.  

Bans were issued on individuals, including high-level police and gendarmerie officials, after the police found new security footage regarding Adil Öksüz, who was briefly detained after the foiled coup but then disappeared after being released, daily Milliyet reported on March 17. 

It was previously uncovered that Öksüz, the Gülen movement’s responsible figure in the Air Force, met with high-level commanders in Ankara while preparing for the coup. It was also revealed that Öksüz met with Gülen in the U.S. in order show him the plans.

Öksüz was caught while trying to escape from the Akıncı Air Base in Ankara, which was used as headquarters by the coup soldiers, on the night of July 15, 2016, but he was released a short while later by a court in the Sincan district. 

While the operation to apprehend Öksüz is ongoing, the authorities are carrying out legal and administrative investigations. The Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) is investigating members of the judiciary responsible for releasing him, while also probing personnel in the Sincan Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Interior Ministry. 

The prosecutor’s office recently launched a private investigation into “abusing the duty,” “destroying, hiding or changing evidence,” “favoring a criminal” and “being member of an armed terrorist organization” regarding Öksüz’s escape. Bans on traveling abroad for 28 people were issued as part of the investigation. 

According to daily Milliyet, the testimonies of four people out of the 28 were taken as suspects, followed by the decision to apply “judicial control.”

The identities of the suspects have not been revealed as the investigation has not yet been completed.