Europe

Europe

Former Turkish army chief arrested by court

06 January 2012 02:01 (UTC +04:00)

Turkey has seen a frame of photo for the first time in its history when former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅŸbuÄŸ arrived at Ä°stanbul Courthouse on Thursday afternoon. He was arrested by the Court in the first hour of the following day after a-day-long questioning.

"The Republic of Turkeyâ€™s 26th Chief of General Staff has been arrested with accusation of founding and managing a terrorist organization. The glorious Turkish people shall assess this,â€ said Gen. BaÅŸbuÄŸ while being transferred to prison.

A formal investigation was opened against former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅŸbuÄŸ on Tuesday as part of â€œInternet Memorandumâ€ inquiry. Gen. Ä°lker BaÅŸbuÄŸ arrived at Ä°stanbul Courthouse on Thursday afternoon to be questioned as a â€œsuspectâ€. This arrival was a first in Turkeyâ€™s history as no Chiefs of General Staff had been questioned in a case regarding their duties.

The Ä°stanbul 13th High Criminal Court has previously made a decision by asking the Ä°stanbul Prosecutorâ€™s Office to include former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅŸbuÄŸ in an investigation into allegations that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) set up websites to spread anti-government propaganda. According to claims, a military plot to discredit the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), known as the â€œInternet Memorandumâ€, was posted on a number of websites that are believed to have been set up by the General Staff to support the Turkish Armed Forcesâ€™ (TSK) propaganda campaigns. A formal investigation was opened against former Chief of General Staff on Tuesday. The investigation was opened by the Office of Specially Authorised Prosecutor of Ä°stanbul. It will be carried out by the Ergenekon Case prosecutor Cihan KansÄ±z.

Gen. BaÅŸbuÄŸ, who arrived at the Courthouse with 3 cars, left the questions of journalists unanswered. He was arrested by the Court in the first hour of the following day after a-day-long questioning, with accusations of â€œmanaging terrorist organizationâ€ and â€œattempting coup.â€