US court rejects FETO member's case on account closures

By Dildar Baykan

NEW YORK

A U.S. court rejected a claim from a Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO) fugitive against a bank for closing his accounts, Anadolu Agency has learned.

Izzet Akyar is a former administrator of FETO-linked, Bank Asya, who is wanted in Turkey as part of a probe into Kaynak Holding, which was linked to the terror group before it was seized in the wake of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt there.

Akyar filed the case against TD Bank on Jan. 16 in the Southern District of New York, claiming he was discriminated against for being Turkish and a FETO member.

TD bank closed his accounts citing Akyar's link to the terror group, which it said can pose risks to tarnish its reputation. He had been notified in March 2017 his accounts would be closed.

The closures are part of Operation Choke Point, an initiative launched by the Justice Department in 2013 to probe American banks. Banks are able to close accounts believed to be involved in money laundering and corruption.

On Sept. 14, the court rejected the case saying there was no discrimination against Akyar.

According to the Turkish government, FETO and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the bloody defeated coup in 2016 which left 251 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.