UPDATE - Heavy life sentences sought for 63 FETO suspects

ADDS COURT VERDICTS FOR FETO SUSPECTS

By Melike Gallenkus and Mustafa Hatipoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) – Prosecutors are seeking aggravated life sentences for 63 people suspected of participating in the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, a judicial source said on Thursday.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, during which 250 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 others injured.

The suspects are accused over incidents at Tuzla Orhanli exit of Ankara highway near Istanbul, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

At the 28th High Criminal Court in Istanbul’s Silivri district, the suspects stand accused of violating the constitutional order.

Prosecutor Orhan Uzun requested, on the other hand, the release of two other suspects, Zafer Ozbay and Suat Katar.

Also, a court in Istanbul sentenced seven FETO members with life imprisonment.

Another court in Istanbul handed nine-year jail terms to 21 people over links to FETO.

In northern Ordu province a court gave six-year-and-three-month jail terms to three people over links to FETO.

A court in northwestern Erzurum province sentenced a former soldier to 12 years and six months in prison under similar charges.