Five admirals arrested

Five admirals, two of which were on active-duty and three which were retired as well as two retired colonels have been arrested for attempting to topple the government in power and for being members of an illegal organization. Meanwhile, six of the detainees, including retired Admiral Lütfi Sancar were released by the court.

Thirteen high-ranking military officials provided statements at the Special Authority Istanbul Court yesterday regarding the ‘Balyoz Security Plan,’ which resulted in the arrest of seven admirals and one general, two of which were still on active-duty. According to sources, the suspects have been formally charged with attempting to overthrow the government and for directing and being members of an illegal organization, and were faced with 80-pages of questions regarding a seminar held on the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) Plans in 2003.  

Active-duty admirals, Aziz Çakmak and Ramazan Cem Gürdeniz, as well as retired Admiral Özer Karabulut, retired Admiral Ali Deniz Kutluk, retired General Mehmet Kaya Varol, retired General Staff Colonel Ali İhsan Çuhadaroğlu and retired Naval General Staff Colonel Ümit Özcan were all arrested in a court hearing held last night. The six military officials that were released are as follows: Former South Naval Field Commander, retired Admiral Lütfi Sancar, retired Admiral Engin Baykal, retired Lieutenant General Ayhan Taş, retired Colonel Metin Dikinci, as well as Colonel Cengiz Köylü and retired Officer Arif Erşan, which are currently being held as suspects in the Ergenekon case. According to sources, the arrested high-ranking officers were later taken to the Hasdal Military Penitentiary.

FIRTINA AND ÖRNEK ARE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Former armed forces commander retired General İbrahim Fırtına and retired Admiral Özden Örnek are expected to be brought to court today. With intensive security measures in place at the courthouse, admirals Aziz Çakmak and Ramazan Cem Gürdeniz were first brought in for hearings. Later, detainees Admiral Ali Deniz Kutluk, retired Admiral Engin Baykal and General Mehmet Kaya Varol, retired Naval General Staff Colonel Ümit Özcan, retired General Staff Colonel Ahmet Metin Dikici and retired General Staff Colonel Ali İhsan Çuhadaroğlu were transferred from the Istanbul Police Department by minibus to the courthouse in Beşiktaş.

ARRESTED ERGENEKON SUSPECTS
Air Force General Staff Colonel Cengiz Köylü, who is currently being held in connection to the Third Ergenekon case, was later released after providing his testimony and was returned by military vehicle to the Hasdal Military Penitentiary. Köylü denied having any connections to the Balyoz Plan.

THREE PASHAS BROUGHT IN TOGETHER
At approximately 14:30 yesterday, retired Naval Field Commander Lütfi Sancar, retired General Ayhan Taş and retired Admiral Özer Karabulut were brought in to provide testimonies. Prosecutors heading the investigation questioned the officials regarding a seminar allegedly held on March 5th-7th, 2003. Basing the questions on documents as well as voice recordings from the seminar, prosecutors asked, “Did you participate in the Balyoz Security Action Plan meeting?", “What were your duties according to the plan”, "What is your relationship with the Armed Forces Commanders and the First Army Commanders?”

NUMBERED INVITATIONS
Meanwhile, retired Officer Arif Erşan who was arrested in Izmir and who allegedly sent out numbered invitations to those who participated in the seminar, underwent five hours of questioning. Erşan was forced to read certain sections of the Balyoz plan and was asked what he understood from the text. According to sources, Officer Arif Erşan stated; “I do not known anything about a confidential action plan or its structuring.” 

THIRTY-FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DETAINED
Twenty suspects are currently being held at the Police Department, including Admiral Özden Örnek and retired Generals Çetin Doğan and Ergin Saygun, while  15 active duty military officials are being held at the Command Headquarters.