Turkish court remands 10 cops in custody for wiretapping
A court in Turkey has put 10 police officers under formal arrest as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged forging of official documents and eavesdropping on top officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On Friday, a court in the country’s capital city of Ankara remanded the policemen on charges of "establishing a criminal gang" and “forgery of official documents."
The ten officers were among the 17 who were detained in an operation carried out in Ankara earlier this week. The other seven were later released but banned from leaving the country.
Ankara Public Prosecutor Alparslan Karabay on Monday ordered the detention of 34 security personnel, among them police chiefs, in 16 provinces on accusations of conducting illegal wiretapping between 2007 and 2011.
Dozens of serving and former Turkish police officers have already been detained over the past few months as part of the investigation into alleged eavesdropping on Erdogan and other key individuals, including businessmen, politicians and government officials.
Many of the police officers arrested were reportedly involved in an anti-government corruption probe and have been removed from their posts.
Turkey plunged into a political crisis after dozens of government officials and prominent businessmen close to Erdogan were arrested in an inquiry on graft charges in December 2013. Erdogan was prime minister at the time.
The scandal, which turned into a very serious challenge to Erdogan’s rule, also led to a cabinet reshuffle.
Erdogan denounced the corruption scandal as well as a string of leaks in the media, saying they were engineered by supporters of his rival, Fethullah Gulen, to undermine his government.
Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, has repeatedly denied any involvement.
On December 19, 2014, an Istanbul court issued an arrest warrant for the US-based cleric.
MP/HMV/HRB
Erdogan: Upholding ICC arrest warrants will restore trust in intl. system
Hamas denies reports about political bureau relocation to Turkey as false
BRICS offers Turkey partner status, says Turkish minister
VIDEO | Sydney protests demand action as Israel faces ICC warrant for war crimes
Iran to host ‘important’ ECO foreign ministers' meeting in Mashhad
Wounded in Israeli strike, health of Kamal Adwan Hospital's director worsens
VIDEO | Press TV's News Headlines
Iran reports 11% drop in domestic red meat supply
Arab League affirms support for Iraq amid Israel's threats of military action
VIDEO | Fierce fight in Southern Lebanon
Over 1000 medics killed in Gaza as Israel systematically targets hospitals
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
