Turkish prosecutor seeks up to 15 years in jail for former Deputy PM Bülent Arınç's son-in-law

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded up to 15 years in jail for the son-in-law of former Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç on charges of being a member of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), widely believed to have been behind the failed July 2016 coup attempt, daily Habertürk reported on July 12.

The indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office gave place to witness statements pointing out to Ekrem Yeter's alleged involvement in FETÖ. The indictment also said Yeter's connection with the organization had continued even after the Dec. 17-25, 2013 probe raids, which targeted figures close to the government at the time by prosecutors alleged to have links to FETÖ. 

It also noted that an account of Yeter in Bank Asya, a bank that was later seized by the state over its links to FETÖ, had been deposited an amount of 41,000 Turkish Liras (about $11,400) following an order by the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.   

Yeter was arrested on June 5, but four days later he was released under judicial control. The Ankara 2nd Court of Peace had also ruled that Yeter was banned from travelling abroad as part of the ongoing case. 

Yeter was among thousands of people either suspended or dismissed from their duties as a part of decree laws issued under the state of emergency declared in the wake of the failed coup attempt.

He had been working as an associate professor in the cardiology department of Yıldırım Beyazıt University's Medicine Faculty but was dismissed from his post with a decree issued on Sept. 2, 2016.

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