Heavy life term on ex-soldier over coup attempt

A Turkish court ordered Wednesday an aggravated life term in prison for a former soldier over his involvement in the 2016 defeated coup in the country, according to judicial sources.

The 4th Heavy Criminal Court in the Aegean Manisa province sentenced former Col. Murat Yılmaz, a deputy brigade commander, to life in prison over a Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) case, said sources, who asked not to be named, due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Yılmaz was convicted of attempting to overthrow constitutional order, the sources said.

Other convicts former Col. Nihat Eryılmaz, and former lieutenant colonels; Engin Yücel and Şükrü Özermiş also received life terms over the same charges during the trial, it added.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.