Turkish court sentences 9 over 2016 coup bid

ANKARA

A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced nine out of ten military personnel at the Turkish Peace Force Command based in northern Cyprus over their role in the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.

Ankara's Heavy Penal Court no. 22 sentenced Col. Mehmet Yilmaz and Lt. Col. Ersan Yagci to 15 years in prison on charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order.

The court also sentenced three military officers to 12 years and six months in prison.

Lt. Col. Ali Metin Ozer was handed down over eight years in jail, while officers Abdullah Sacid Inceoglu and Okan Bolukbasi were given six years.

Another officer, Serdal Ayhan was sentenced to two years.

Meanwhile, Col. Fahri Nazmi Genc was acquitted.

Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey 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.