2 judges temporarily suspended over FETO member release

ANKARA

Turkish Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) on Tuesday announced it had temporarily suspended two judges that released a suspect who later became known as one of the top 15 July coup plotters.

Judges Koksal Celik and Cetin Sonmez were suspended after they released Adil Oksuz -- an assistant professor at Faculty of Theology of Sakarya University -- who is accused of being among the leading members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

After his release, third department of the HSYK gave a permission to inquire into Celik and Sonmez.

The second department at the HSYK decided to suspend judges in accordance with a preliminary report at the board's Inspection Committee.

Oksuz was found the night of the defeated coup at Ankara’s Akinci 4th Main Jet Base and released after a brief interrogation. Later, an arrest warrant was issued for him.

Following the July 15 coup attempt, around 26,000 people have been arrested across Turkey. Senior business figures as well as military, police, judges, prosecutors and teachers have been among those targeted.

At least 240 people were martyred in the coup attempt, which the government has said was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

(Reporting by Aylin Sirikli, Writing by Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara)