In Istanbul - anti-Gülen operation - Millions of liras were seized

Millions of Turkish Liras were seized in an operation targeting the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PDY) in the Pendik district of Istanbul which was carried out upon the testimony of a suspect called the “safe of the Gülen movement.” Murat Kılıç, who was caught on Aug. 3 in Istanbul alongside 11 others, pointed to a housing complex in Pendik in his testimony. 

The police seized 2.13 million liras in the parking lot of the housing complex, daily Habertürk reported on Aug. 5. In addition to the money found in the parking lot, 200,000 liras were seized by the police in a search conducted in a house in Istanbul’s Eyüp.

Books written by U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen were also found in the operations.

Police across the country have been conducting raids against Gülenists, who were believed to be behind the July 15 failed coup attempt.

Officers from the anti-smuggling and organized crime units raided different addresses in a number of Istanbul districts, including Güngören, Beylikdüzü, Sarıyer and Kadıköy.

The police found 3.5 million liras and a check worth 50 million liras during the operation in which Kılıç was caught, as well as a number of American one dollar bills with an F serial number,which were believed to be used to show membership in FETÖ.

A picture of Kılıç, who was also called the “financial imam of FETÖ/PDY,” was on the one dollar bills, Doğan News Agency reported.

“Imam,” which traditionally refers to a religious public worker, is a term used by the Gülenist organization to mark local leadership.

The money was believed to have been collected as charitable donations from the followers of Gülen.