Opposition ex-deputy’s assets seized over FETO links

A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered the forfeiture of assets belonging to a former deputy of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) over alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

The court in Istanbul ordered that all bank accounts, vehicles and other assets belonging to Aykan Erdemir -- who was also named as a witness in a case against a Turkish banker in New York -- be confiscated.

Last week, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had issued an arrest warrant for Erdemir over his alleged links to FETO.

He has been accused of destroying, stealing and misusing state documents related to the security of Republic of Turkey.

Erdemir, who is currently at large, has also been accused of providing evidence, related to the 2013 corruption probe, to be used in a case against Turkish banker Mehmet Hakan Atilla in New York.

The court was referring to a so-called graft probe against top government officials to overthrow Turkey's elected government followed by large-scale raids on Dec. 17-25, 2013, which led to the detention of prominent figures.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15, 2016, defeated coup attempt in Turkey, which martyred 250 and left nearly 2,200 injured.