Turkish prosecutors in İzmir, Adana and Bolu have ordered the detention of 115 suspects as part of a large-scale crackdown targeting followers of the Gülen movement, which is accused of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt despite its strong denial of any involvement.
The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that İzmir prosecutors on Wednesday issued detention warrants for 31 people over Gülen links. The chief public prosecutor’s office said the suspects are accused of rigging a police entrance exam in 2009.
Teachers, businessmen and lawyers were among the suspects in addition to former police officers.
On the pretext of an anti-coup fight, more than 130,000 people were removed from state jobs while in excess of 30,000 others are still in jail and some 600,000 people have been investigated on allegations of terrorism.
Since the failed coup, Turkish police have been conducting mass detentions. Last week dozens of suspects were again detained on the same charges.
İzmir police, meanwhile, detained 53 suspects as part of Gülen-linked investigations.
In Adana and Bolu provinces, a total of 31 suspects were sought by prosecutors in Gülen-related probes. Twenty-two of the suspects in Adana were former police officers.