04 October 2017•Update: 04 October 2017
By Zafer Fatih Beyaz and Ferdi Turkten
ANKARA
Evidence submitted in the main trial over last year’s defeated coup attempt in Turkey points to a key accused coup-plotter visiting the ringleader, Fetullah Gulen, at his U.S. home in early 2016.
Documentation submitted by the U.S. Homeland Security Department says that when questioned at the Newark, New Jersey airport on Jan. 1, 2016, Kemal Batmaz said he would stay with Gulen, head of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), while in the U.S.
Batmaz is an accused “imam” of FETO, the group that orchestrated the defeated coup in Turkey of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
The evidence was sent on Sept. 8 to the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court, where 486 defendants are being tried their alleged role in the coup at Akinci Air Base north of the capital Ankara, now known as Murted Air Base, which was used as a headquarters for the coup attempt on July 15.
They face charges including membership in a terrorist organization, attempting to assassinate the president, and trying to overthrow the parliament.
Evidence of FETO links
Batmaz, a civilian accused of being one of the defeated coup leaders, was arrested at the base on the morning of July 16.
Batmaz and Adil Oksuz, another key accused coup-plotter, were reportedly caught on camera returning to Istanbul from the U.S. on July 13, 2016, two days before the attempted takeover.
Authorities say they had visited Gulen at his home in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania to discuss the plot.
When was accused in court of commanding the 143rd fleet at the 4th Main Jet Base Akinci, he denied it, saying he was in the area to inspect he was considering buying.
On a May 30 hearing in the case, former Gen. Hakan Evrim denied having “saluted” Batmaz at the air base, despite video footage showing otherwise.
The U.S. airport security evidence was also sent to the Ankara 17th High Criminal Court, where 221 suspects are being tried for alleged membership in the so-called “Peace at Home Council,” a committee established by the coup-plotters to replace the government if the putsch had succeeded.
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.
