Turkish employee of US Consulate indicted for espionage

Istanbul, Jan 20 (AP) Turkish prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for a local employee of the United States consulate in Istanbul accused of attempting to overthrow the government and espionage. A 78-page indictment against Turkish national Metin Topuz, jailed since October 2017, said Topuz was in "very intense contact" with police officers who led a 2013 anti-corruption investigation that implicated top government officials.

The Turkish government accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for attempting a coup with that investigation and labelled his network a terror group. Gulen is also blamed for the 2016 failed coup but he denies the accusations.

A judge will decide whether the case will proceed to trial. Topuz's arrest led to the suspension of bilateral visa services for more than two months.(AP)

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