From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Turkish employee of US Consulate indicted for espionage
Turkish prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for a local employee of the United States consulate in Istanbul accused of attempting to overthrow the government and espionage.
A 78-page indictment against Turkish national Metin Topuz, jailed since October 2017, said Topuz was in “very intense contact” with police officers who led a 2013 anti-corruption investigation that implicated top government officials.
The Turkish government is accusing US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of attempting a coup with that investigation and labeled his network a terror group. Gulen is also blamed for the 2016 failed coup but he denies the accusations.
A judge will decide whether the case will proceed to trial.
Topuz’s arrest led to the suspension of bilateral visa services for more than two months.
— AP
The Times of Israel Community.