UPDATE - Turkey: Former CHP deputy jailed pending trial

UPDATES WITH ERDEM JAILED PENDING TRIAL

By Sertac Bulur, Hamdi Celikbas

ANKARA (AA) - A former Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmaker was jailed on Friday over terrorism charges.

Eren Erdem was arrested on early Friday in Ankara after the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul issued a warrant on charges of “being a member of an armed terrorist organization.”

Erdem was charged with illegally distributing voice recordings during terror group Fetullah Terrorist Organization’s December 17-25, 2013 coup attempt.

FETO is accused of attempting to overthrow the Turkish government in late 2013 through the release of allegedly fabricated voice recordings linked to an anti-corruption case.

Erdem is charged with "being a member of armed terrorist group", "willingly helping a terrorist organization" and "violating the privacy of an investigation" and could be jailed for nine and half years to 22 years.

Istanbul's 35th Heavy Penal Court sent Erdem to jail pending trial.

The FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

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