US Consulate employee Cantürk sentenced to over 5 years in prison

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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Nazmi Mete Cantürk, an employee of the United States (US) General Consulate in İstanbul, has been sentenced to 5 years, 2 months, 15 days in prison for "aiding the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)", which is held responsible for the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.

The final hearing of the trial was held at the İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court yesterday (October 27). Defendants Nazmi Cantürk, his wife Sevim Cantürk and his daughter Kevser İrem Cantürk as well as their attorneys attended the hearing. US Consul General Daria Darnell, US Embassy Charge D'affaires Jeffrey M Hovenier and consulate workers also watched the hearing.

According to the indictment lodged by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror and Organized Crimes Bureau, Nazmi Mete Cantürk was facing charges on the grounds that he was allegedly in contact with FETÖ members, had money in Bank Asya, attended meetings known as "Sohbet" (conversation) and took part in reciting competitions.

'They were appointed by the government'

As reported by the Anadolu Agency (AA), Cantürk presented his last defense at the hearing and said that he had not committed a crime, but his job required coordinating with local officials on security issues.

"Upon my manager's orders, I met people I needed to meet as part of my job. The people in these positions are civil servants appointed by the government," Cantük said, adding that "it was not possible for him to know if these people were involved in a crime."

"I did not attend or aid the Turkish Olympics. I did not work in their institutions or organizations. I did not subscribe to their newspapers or find subscribers for their newspapers," he also said, reiterating that "he had not attended any meetings or events of the FETÖ, had not met Fethullah Gülen or had not married someone from inside the organization."

He also indicated that "he and his family were aggrieved by the case, his daughter had been involved in the case just because they had the same surname and she was suspended from her job for this reason."

Cantürk demanded his acquittal.

Over 5 years in prison

Handing down its judgement, the court board has ruled that defendant Nazmi Mete Cantürk shall be sentenced to 5 years, 2 months and 15 days in prison on charge of "knowingly and willingly aiding the FETÖ."

Other defendants, his daughter Kevser İrem Cantürk and wife Sevim Cantürk, have been acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The court board has also lifted the judicial control measures on the acquitted defendants while ruling that the international travel ban on Nazmi Mete Cantürk shall remain in effect.

He was under house arrest for 17 months

Based on the statements of Metin Topuz, another US Consulate worker, Cantürk was summoned to depose and he was sentenced to house arrest by the İstanbul Penal Judgeship of Peace on January 31, 2018.

He was released from house arrest 17 months later on June 25, 2019. The judgeship has ruled that he should give signatures at the police station closest to his home once a week. (EKN/SD)