Turkish court sentences U.S. consulate employee Topuz to more than eight years in prison for aiding FETO
A local US consulate employee was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison in Turkey on Thursday for aiding the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation [FETO], which was behind a failed July 15 coup attempt in 2016 that left more than 250 Turkish citizens martyred and thousands of others injured.
- Türkiye
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 03:43 | 11 June 2020
- Modified Date: 03:45 | 11 June 2020
A Turkish court sentenced U.S. consulate employee Metin Topuz to 8 years and 9 months in jail for aiding the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation [FETO], state-owned Anadolu news agency said on Thursday.
The case has been one of several sources of strain between Ankara and Washington. In March, prosecutors said Topuz should be acquitted on charges of espionage and trying to overthrow the government, but should face jail on a lesser charge of belonging to a terrorist organisation.
Metin Topuz, who worked as a liaison officer for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Istanbul, was arrested in 2017.
He was accused of making contact with police and a prosecutor suspected of ties to US-based FETO ringleader Fethullah Gulen, who masterminded the deadly July 15 coup bid 4 years ago.