Documents linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ)'s attempts to overthrow the democratically-elected Turkish government on Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013, were found on computers belonging to Koza Ipek Holding, which belonged to Hamdi Akın Ipek, one of the main financial backers of the terrorist group.
Ipek Koza Holding was searched by Turkish authorities within the scope of a case in the 4th Criminal Court in Ankara for FETÖ fugitives including Ipek, who left Turkey for London prior to the seizure of the holding by court order in October 2015. Audio records, physical surveillance reports and HTS records related to the Dec.17 and Dec. 25 attempts were found on the company's computers, the search report revealed.
In the infamous Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013 anti-graft investigations, FETÖ turned to its members in the judiciary to deal a blow to the democratically elected government of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to the report, a large number of audio recordings of Dec. 17 attempt were found among the materials belong to Ali Serdar Hasırcıoğlu, former director of the company.
The search report said that the holding director acted in line with the directives of FETÖ ringleaders. "This clearly shows that these entrepreneurs are part of the terrorist organization," the report said.
Illegally-obtained "service-specific" and "confidential-grade" documents found on Hasırcıoğlu's computer were expressed in the report as "oppose to the usual flow of life."
The report also revealed links between FETÖ and prosecutors involved in the Dec.17 and Dec.25 attempts, and said the confidential documents may have been transferred to the holding and Hasırcıoğlu by the prosecutors.
The documents, most of which were voice records, allegedly belonged to statesmen and were "leaked by FETÖ members and served to the media by other members."
"It is considered that the news published on FETÖ's news sites and the national press about the persons mentioned in the investigations may have been transferred to the international press," the report said.
The report concluded that "the evidence obtained from Koza Ipek Holding clearly shows that these businesses are part of the terror group, as the company known as a commercial business is not far from politics, and acted in line with the terror group leader's aims and directives while making sharing degrading (information) about the state and the government which they view as an enemy."
Ipek is currently sought by Turkish authorities for "managing a terror group, financing terrorism, embezzlement and spreading propaganda for a terror group." His brother, Cafer Ipek, and mother, Melek Ipek, are among 45 defendants currently on trial in Turkey for FETÖ links with his business conglomerate.
Ipek was detained on May 23 in London after Turkey's request for his extradition over charges related to the July 15, 2016, defeated coup orchestrated by FETÖ. In July, he lost a lawsuit he filed in U.K. courts for the return of his assets seized by Turkey.
However, in November, a London court rejected Turkey's request to extradite Ipek with three other fugitives.
Ipek, who studied business in the United Kingdom, inherited a printing business from his father, and in the 2000s, his business empire considerably expanded — with some critics tying it to his links to FETÖ — and branched into the mining sector with a gold mine in western Turkey. He made a foray into media by buying the Bugün newspaper in 2005. That was followed by more media purchases, including Kanaltürk TV and the establishment of Bugün TV. Some newspapers and TV stations were well-known mouthpieces for FETÖ before Turkey moved to shut them down.
His U.K.-based private company Koza Ltd. reportedly possesses over 60 million pounds ($84.8 million) and is considered one of the main financial backers of FETÖ.
FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fethullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
