Erdoğan: ‘Two suspects who wiretapped my office caught’

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said two suspects who have been on the run after facing charges of wiretapping Erdoğan's office while he was the prime minister, have been caught in Romania. The suspects are allegedly affiliated with Gülen movement which is notorious of carrying out illegal wiretapping activities.

Speaking during an inauguration ceremony in the western province of Bursa on Friday, President Erdoğan said: "Two of those who wiretapped my office were caught in Romania. They first fled to Croatia, moved on to Hungary and then to Romania where they were caught. We requested their extradition which I hope will be granted soon."

Five suspects were being sought by police after a lawsuit was filed against them on charges of being involved in wiretapping the Prime Ministry office of Erdoğan.

The first hearing for the case on the illegal wiretapping of Erdoğan's office started on January 2. While five suspects who are sought by police were at large, eight of them appeared before the court. One of the suspects is former director of the country's scientific watchdog, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK).

The suspects stood trial on charges of "political and military spying." Prosecutors will seek a sentence of 15 to 20 years for the suspects in accordance with article 328 of the Turkish Penal Code.

The public prosecutor from the Bureau of Investigation into Crimes against Constitutional Order, Durak Çetin, completed the bill of indictment and sent it to the Ankara 11th High Criminal Court on November 18.