Turkish pollster released, assets of 41 businessmen seized

ISTANBUL

The assets of a total of 41 business leaders were seized on Sept. 7 over their alleged links to Fethullah Gülen, the prime suspect in the July 15 coup attempt, as more people, including a renowned pollster and journalists, were detained. 

Investigations have been launched into companies accused of financially supporting the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). 

Fikret İnan, the owner of the large construction business Fi Yapı; the former CEO of İhlas Holding, Cahit Paksoy; and Fatih Aktaş, chairman of Akfa Holding, were among those whose assets were confiscated. 

A total of 102 people had already been detained in the case, while 39 people, including Paksoy, İnan and Aktaş, were arrested.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the MetroPOLL polling company, Özer Sencar, was briefly detained on Sept. 7 in Ankara as a part of the ongoing investigation into the FETÖ.

“Özer Sencar has been detained today after a search was conducted as part of the investigation into FETÖ/PDY [Parallel State Structure],” read a tweet posted on Sencar’s personal Twitter account.

His son, Hüsrev Taha Sencar, said his father was detained after a search at his residence and the MetroPOLL headquarters at 6:30 a.m.

He also added that Sencar’s views and stance against FETÖ were clearly known by the public.

Sencar was released in the evening hours.

MetroPOLL is one of the more respected polling companies in Turkey. 

Elsewhere, three columnists from a nationalist newspaper were detained as a part of the probe into FETÖ.

Servet Avcı, Adnan İslamoğulları and Yavuz Selim Demirağ, who wrote a book on Gülenist activities in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), from daily Yeniçağ were detained as a part of the probe launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. 

Dissidents from the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have reacted to the detentions of columnists, with Meral Akşener, Sinan Oğan and Koray Aydın condemning it.

Turan Yaldir, a former lawmaker from the MHP was detained in Ankara on similar charges, Yeniçağ reported.

Meanwhile, detention warrants were issued for a total of 105 people from 17 provinces. Detention warrants were issued as a part of the investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“Imams managing the Armed Forces” and soldiers were among those for whom detention warrants were issued. 

“Imam,” which traditionally refers to a religious public worker, is a term used by the Gülenist organization to mark local leadership.