UPDATE - Turkish courts convict 11 over FETO links

UPDATES WITH MORE ARRESTS, REVISED HEADLINE, INTRO, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Selim Bostanci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish courts on Tuesday handed down prison sentences to 10 Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) members.

The convicts, including three teachers, an academic and a former police officer, who were sentenced to between one and nine years in cases across the country.

In another hearing in Ankara, a former Supreme Court investigating judge, Asim Yildirim, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for FETO membership.

Meanwhile, 37 suspects, including 14 former soldiers, were arrested for allegedly FETO membership across seven provinces, police said.

Another operation in Bursa, Istanbul and Edirne provinces saw four soldiers arrested while 11 people were arrested in raids in Ardahan and Kocaeli provinces.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated last year’s coup attempt that left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara 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.