The Istanbul 11^th High Criminal Court accepted the indictment based on the "investigation of espionage and blackmailing within the military". The related investigation had been initiated on 4 August 2010 upon information on a prostitution ring.

The 250-page indictment includes the names of 56 suspects, 16 of whom are detained, among them also retired Colonel İbrahim Sezer. The court decided to keep the 16 defendants in detention. The first hearing is scheduled for 20 and 21 April.

Investigation set off with allegations of prostitution

The indictment says that military officers İbrahim Sezer and Zeki Metsen frequently sent women for prostitution from a prostitution ring. These women were met by top rank commanders, military officers and even students in rented houses. The indictment claims that the criminal organization was structured in separate cells and illegally obtained personal data of approximately 5,000 people.

Espionage allegations

A significant part of the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Public Chief Prosecution deals with alleged espionage carried out by the organization.

Colonel Sezer is the supposed head of the organization. Together with the other suspects, he illegally obtained about 165,000 digital documents and data from residence registries and offices. This data should have remained confidential since it concerned the security of state according to Articles 326 ("Documents relating to state security"), 327 ("Obtaining information relating to state security") and 334 ("Obtaining prohibited information") of the Turkish Criminal Law.

The documents

The documents include information on defence projects developed by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) with other companies, modernization of helicopters and planes, classified information on weapons production, "highly classified" methods and plans of defence strategies and writings concerning the state security.

Additionally, secretly recorded footage of "classified" locations is mentioned in the indictment such as submarines, war ships, confidential military facilities, war planes, hangars for those planes and maintenance workshops. Moreover, classified information and documents regarding strategic weapons, combat vehicles and technical specifications of submarines are included.

Documents allegedly for sale

As indicated in the indictment, the members of the organization were systematically spying on the TSK, the Undersecretaryship of Defence Industries, the General Staff Electronics Systems Command (GES), the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the Air Electronics Industry (Havelsan).

A part of these documents was allegedly paid for by the members of the organization. Some documents they apparently tried to sell to foreign governments. (EKN/EÖ/VK)

Source: Radikal newspaper.