Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman quoted Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as saying that the 49 arrestees were among the 51 officers against whom arrest warrants had been issued on Wednesday.

 

Sting operations were launched simultaneously in 16 provinces. The detainees are reportedly holding high-profile positions in the Ministry of Defense, the Land Forces Command, the Naval Forces Command and the Gülhane Military Academy of Medicine (GATA).

 

The officers are accused of blackmailing, and illegally obtaining military information. The gang reportedly used prostitutes to blackmail and obtain classified security information from high-ranking officers and senior bureaucrats.

 

The first phase of the operation was launched in May when 20 people were arrested for involvement in the espionage gang.

 

Based in Izmir, the gang is reported to have branches in a number of provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Antalya, Mugla, Manisa, Zonguldak and Ordu.

 

The Turkish military, which has been the self-appointed guardian of secularism in the country since the founding of the republic in 1923 and was widely regarded as an important element of the deep state, has overthrown four governments in coups in 1960, 1971, 1980, and 1997.

 

(Source: Press TV)