A court in the northwestern city of Kocaeli sentenced nine former police officers linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) in an illegal wiretapping case. Defendants were handed down prison terms between six years to 22 years are accused of secretly wiretapping 63 people for the terrorist group.

FETÖ, which is accused of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt by its followers in the military, has previously faced similar allegations. Using its followers in the law enforcement, the group wiretapped phone conversations of hundreds of people according to prosecutors and used them for blackmail and other purposes.

Among those wiretapped by FETÖ-linked officers in Kocaeli were the city's former governor Ercan Topaca who currently serves as governor of the capital Ankara, officials from the local branch of the intelligence service, politicians, journalists and lawmakers as well as police chiefs. The court charged defendants both with membership of a terrorist group and illegal wiretapping.