Report: US allowed FETÖ figures to violate Iran sanctions


A former executive of a company owned by fugitive Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) figures came forward with evidence that two men believed to be in the United States were allowed to conduct trade with Iran despite sanctions.

Halil İbrahim Koca and İbrahim Faruk Bayındır, two partners in the Borajet aviation company, did business with Iran and even opened an office there, according to Kadir Peker, former manager at the aviation company.

Peker presented evidence on the matter to prosecutors in Istanbul and detailed how they operated a company in Iran in 2013. Documents show Borajet, which allegedly was used for financing FETÖ activities, was based in the United States.

Peker said all paperwork regarding the company in Iran was stored in Borajet offices in Istanbul but the company's officials later destroyed them. He presented prosecutors company memos and other documents that purport to show the existence of the company he saved from destruction.

Bayındır and Koca face multiple detention and arrest warrants in a string of cases related to FETÖ.

FETÖ is accused of multiple coup attempts since 2013, and is implicated in a series of crimes ranging from money laundering, blackmail, illegal wiretapping and sham trials orchestrated by its members in judiciary, law enforcement and bureaucracy.

Turkish authorities confiscated the assets of hundreds of companies used to finance FETÖ activities after the July 15, 2016 coup attempt blamed on the group.

Ankara has also asked the United States to extradite Koca and Bayındır. Bayındır was implicated in a sex tape scandal blamed on FETÖ-linked figures.

Bayındır is accused of financing an online campaign against executives of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), including the release of sex tapes involving MHP lawmakers who later quit over the scandal.

He fled to the United States after an investigation was launched into him last year. Koca, who also works as a lawyer, was also implicated in the sex tape case.