US Consulate suspect meets lawyers at Istanbul prison

By Huseyin Kulaoglu and Ugur Samet Avci

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Turkish worker for the U.S. Consulate facing terror charges met his lawyers on Friday, one of his attorneys said.

Metin Topuz, who works for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency at the Istanbul mission, meet Halit Akalp and Selman Alibas at Silivri Prison near the city.

Following a two-hour meeting, Akalp told reporters they had had a “very comfortable conversation” at the jail. “We have also contacted our client during his time in custody as the laws allowed us to.”

He added: “There are no restrictions on this issue and the conditions of the meeting are already clear within the rules of law. So, we have had our meeting.”

Following Topuz’s arrest on Oct. 6 on allegations of ties to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) -- said to be behind last year’s attempted coup -- U.S. authorities complained Topuz had not received sufficient access to his lawyer.

The arrest led to the suspension of U.S. non-immigrant visa services in Turkey, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Turkey.

According to a statement sent by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to a court, Topuz has been charged with spying, attempting to eliminate the constitutional order and attempting to overthrow the Turkish government.

He has allegedly been linked to 121 FETO suspects, including police chiefs, over a prolonged period, the statement said.