FETO members in police 'collect huge money illegally'

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - A secret structure of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) within Turkish police had been collecting millions of Turkish liras every month to support its members both inside and outside Turkey, a recent investigation revealed.

The investigation conducted by the Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch of the police department disclosed that a secret FETO structure had been collecting an average of 3.5 million Turkish liras ($1 million) every month for the terror group, according to officials from the police department.

The money had been collected from the FETO members within the police department.

They have also collected a total of 18 million Turkish liras ($5 million) worth of gold, Zakat al-Fitr (Islamic alms paid during the fasting month of Ramadan) and got monetary benefits by selling hides of sacrificial animals, the officials told Anadolu Agency in condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, the FETO is accused of orchestrating Turkey’s July 15, 2016 coup plot as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and the judiciary.

The investigation, which has been conducted under the observation of Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office, unveiled that the tremendous monetary activities had been conducted under the guise of ‘Himmet’ from the FETO members in the police department, the officials said.

‘Himmet’ refers to money collected as charitable donations from the members of FETO network.

The money has been used for hiring advocates for the detained FETO members, financing those members who escaped to foreign countries or will escape abroad, providing house rent and other financial support to the fugitive members who are still living in the country, the investigation revealed.

Moreover, FETO-affiliated think tanks, visual and social media institutions that have been conducting worldwide propaganda campaign for the terror group have also been financed from this money.

The illegal structure’s members who had been dismissed by the authorities from police, military, and judiciary, had also been financially supported, the sources said.

The remaining money had been transferred to FETO-affiliated companies.

The investigation also revealed that the terror group had also formed two companies through which it secretly transferred money to an ongoing construction project of 55 houses.

Some FETO members had also kept a part of the money in the banks.

Since the defeated coup of July 2016, that left 249 people martyred and nearly 2,200 wounded, tens of thousands of FETO members have been detained.

During Istanbul-based simultaneous operations in 17 provinces on Wednesday, police detained 27 FETO suspects out of a total of 53 suspects who have arrest warrants out for them. The suspects include employees of Turkish National Intelligence Organization, armed forces, police department and some ministry officials.