CORRECTS - Main suspects in Turkey's coup attempt to face trial

By Barisa Kilic and Serdar Acil

ANKARA (AA) - An indictment against the main suspects in last July’s attempted coup was accepted by a court in Ankara on Wednesday, a judicial official said.

Prosecutors submitted the charges against 221 defendants, including U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, said to be the central figures behind the bid to overthrow the government on July 15.

The 17th Heavy Penal Court in Ankara accepted the indictment outlining the “attempt to overthrow the democratic constitutional order by treasonous FETO members with 35 planes, 37 helicopters, 246 armored vehicles and around 4,000 light weapons.”

Among the suspects are the members of the Peace at Home Council established by the coup plotters to replace the government.

Listed were a general, three lieutenant generals, four major generals, 16 brigadier generals and three rear admirals. Twelve of the suspects are civilians.

Prominent defendants include Ali Yazici, the former military aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Levent Turkkan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar’s ex-aide; and Muhammet Uslu, a former official in the prime minister’s private office.

The indictment was filed by Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Necip Cem Iscimen and public prosecutors Kemal Aksakal and Istiklal Akkaya, the official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions to speaking to media.

- May 22 trial

It detailed how the putchists targeted parliament, the Presidential Palace and other institutions.

Erdogan is listed as the complainant while Akar was listed among the “soldiers who were victims”.

A trial is due to start on May 22.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) has been accused of being behind the attempted coup, which left at least 249 people martyred and around 2,200 wounded.

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

Meanwhile, police arrested 40 FETO suspects across the country on Wednesday, a police official said.

The arrests came after Istanbul prosecutors issued warrants for 145 suspects, including military officers, in 22 provinces.

The suspects are accused of FETO membership and using the ByLock smart phone app, which FETO members are thought to have used to covertly communicate.