The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 114 businessmen including Rıza Meral, chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement.
The movement is accused by the government of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15.
Among those implicated in the investigation are members and staff of TUSKON, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.
Founded in 2005, TUSKON is a union of 55,000 businessmen. Having organized several international trade fairs since its establishment, the union is now accused of providing financial support to the movement.
Some TL 12 billion (about $4 billion) in property has been transferred to the Treasury as part of an investigation into the movement, said Minister for Environment and Urbanization Mehmet Özhaseki on Sept. 1. Yet, the total figure is expected to increase considering seizures and trustee appointments at more companies, which have become common practice in the aftermath of July 15.