Britain court rejects extradition request for Turkish businessman

LONDON: A British court has rejected an extradition request from Turkey for exiled businessman Akin Ipek to face terrorism-funding, fraud and other charges, saying he faced a real risk of ill-treatment should he be returned.

Ipek, 54, built a multi-billion-dollar fortune in Turkey based on gold mining but left the country in 2015 after relations between the government and followers of Us-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen soured.

Ankara accused Gulen, a former ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, of orchestrating a 2016 failed coup attempt and has carried out a widespread crackdown targeting his alleged followers. Gulen has denied any involvement.

Ipek and two other men, Ali Celik and Talip Buyuk, who are said by Ankara to be high-ranking members of Gulen’s organisation (FETO), were arrested by Britain earlier this year following extradition requests from Turkey.

They were accused of a series of charges including fundraising for terrorism, fraud and conspiracy to launder proceeds of crime.

John Zani, District Judge at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court, said while he had “serious reservations about the current state of the rule of law in Turkey,” he accepted the men would receive a fair trial there.

But he rejected the extradition requests saying the men risked illtreatment on their return.