Wanted ‘Fetö members’ arrested in TRNC

TWO men wanted in Turkey for allegedly being part of the Fetö terrorist group, said to be behind the failed coup attempt there in 2016, have been arrested in the TRNC.

Ali Osman Çinir, accused by Turkish police of “forming and leading an armed terrorist organisation” and Ali Riza Çelikbaş, wanted for “being a member of a terrorist organisation”, appeared before Gazimağusa District Court this week on TRNC charges of being “illegal residents”.

They were arrested last Friday following a tip-off, the court heard, when their wanted status in Turkey was also ascertained by the Turkish Cypriot authorities. They were remanded in custody for eight days.

Police told the court that they were on the hunt for a third person who had been staying at the same address as the pair and who is also wanted in Turkey for similar offences.

The pair “came to the country as soldiers” but did not return to Turkey after learning they were wanted by police there, Gazimağusa District Court was told.

Rifat Öztemur, who “helped the illegal residents”, was also arrested for employing the men at his hardware store “from time to time”. He was remanded in custody for three days.

A computer, CD and a book by Fetö leader Fethullah Gülen said to have been discovered in Öztemur’s house and business premises were seized as evidence.

Five other people — Ömer Öztemur, Feriha Öztemur, Umur Öztemur, Meltem Altınışık and Süleyman Pedi Paycı — were arrested and remanded in custody for three days each on Tuesday, also on allegations of helping Çinir and Çelikbaş, and of possessing banned publications. Six mobile phones and “some documents and notebooks” were seized as evidence.