Turkey: Dogan Holding legal advisor, executive released

By Muhammed Enes Can, Murat Kaya

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Turkish court in Istanbul on Friday released the top legal advisor and a former executive of one of Turkey's biggest conglomerates who were arrested as part of a probe into the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), a security source said.

Dogan Holding's chief legal advisor, Ekrem Turgut Yucel, and a former chief executive, Yahya Uzdiyen, were released under judicial control with an international travel ban.

The two men were arrested on Jan. 5 in Istanbul in light of new evidence gathered in the probe, which on Dec. 1 led to the detention of the holding's Ankara administrative representative, Barbaros Muratoglu, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media.

Muratoglu was later remanded in custody on Dec. 15 on charges of helping the FETO terrorist organization.

According to Turkey’s government, U.S.-based FETO leader Fetullah Gulen masterminded a July 15 defeated coup in Turkey, which left at least 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara has also said FETO is behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

In the wake of the July coup attempt, tens of thousands of FETO suspects have been arrested, including many in the armed forces, police, justice system, and education sector.