Five defendants, including former NAKSAN Holding shareholder Taner Nakıboğlu, appeared in court for the first time Thursday after being arrested in a sweeping investigation into the alleged current structure of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
The case stems from a May 6 operation centered in Gaziantep that spanned 47 provinces. Prosecutors allege the suspects were members of FETÖ and financed the group through front companies as part of efforts to rebuild its network. Authorities detained 222 suspects following a six-month surveillance operation.
During the hearing at Gaziantep's 2nd High Criminal Court, several defendants denied the charges, while one sought to benefit from Türkiye's effective remorse provisions.
Defendant Uğur Önder acknowledged his previous ties to the group but said he regretted his involvement. He admitted collecting and delivering cash left at predetermined locations, including mailboxes, apartment entrances and water meters, but said he never discussed FETÖ during online lessons he gave to students.
"I was a member of this organization in the past, but I regret it," Önder told the court, adding that he had used the code name "Yusuf" and was paid $50 per student for mathematics and geometry lessons.
