Turkey arrests 23 in wire-tapping scandal
Iran Press TV
Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:18PM
Turkey has arrested 23 people for wire-tapping senior government officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Police launched raids in the capital Ankara and three other cities early Tuesday, arresting some 23 people suspected of illegally eavesdropping on senior government officials.
The state-run Anadolu news agency said the suspects are linked to Turkey's telecommunications authority and its research center. They are suspected of wiretapping phones, including encrypted ones used by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior officials.
Last year, secretly taped telephone conversations suggesting corruption were leaked online, including those between Erdogan and his son. Erdogan has insisted the tapes were fabricated and part of a plot orchestrated by followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
In another development, scores of police commanders were fired in various cities in what may also be related to the ongoing crackdown on Gullen supporters.
An official trial began early January to question those accused of setting up bugs to wire-tap Erdogan's phone when he was prime minister. The case involves 13 suspects including Erdogan's former bodyguard and head of his office security department.
Turkey has sacked thousands of police officers and dozens of judges over the past years in what is seen as to stop legal investigation into alleged cases of graft and abuse of power. The government's introduction of some legislation for tightening the grip on judiciary and the Internet has triggered huge criticism inside and outside of the country with many activists calling them direct violation of people's right for democracy and freedom of expression.
MS/HMV/HRB
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