3 admirals accused of gang membership in Cage indictment

The document also seeks lengthy prison sentences for 30 other defendants on similar charges.

The Cage plan is an alleged Naval Forces Command plot to undermine the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) by assassinating prominent non-Muslim figures in Turkey and putting the blame for the killings on the party. The plan aimed to intimidate the country’s non-Muslim groups, which was expected to increase internal and external pressure on the ruling party. Weakening public support for the party was intended to eventually lead to a military takeover.

According to the 65-page indictment, the plot team was being coordinated and led by retired Adm. Ahmet Feyyaz Öğütçü.

The Cage plan was detailed on a CD seized last year from the office of retired Maj. Levent Bektaş, who was arrested in April for suspected links to a large cache of munitions buried in İstanbul’s Poyrazköy area. That discovery came as part of an investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine gang whose suspected members are currently standing trial on charges of having plotted to overthrow the government.

The indictment points to Vice Adm. Kadir Sağdıç and rear Adm. Mehmet Fatih İlğar as “number two and three men” behind the plot. The two were interrogated last month by İzmir prosecutors as part of the Ergenekon probe.

The İstanbul 12th High Criminal Court is expected to decide on whether to accept or reject the indictment on March 19.

Among other defendants in the indictment are Col. Mücahit Erakyol, Col. Levent Gülman and Lt. Col. Halil Özsaraç.

On March 15, a civilian prosecutor in İstanbul asked the court to merge the Cage indictment with an indictment into the Poyrazköy munitions. The Poyrazköy indictment demands life sentences for five naval officers -- Lt. Col. Ercan Kireçtepe, Lt. Col. Mustafa Turhan Ecevit, Maj. Eren Günay, Maj. Emre Onat and retired Maj. Bektaş -- on charges of “attempting to destroy Parliament and the government.”

Adm. Öğütçü’s name appears in Cage plan documents as “the president.” Öğütçü was forced to retire at last August’s Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) meeting, reportedly due to his suspected ties to Ergenekon.

Öğütçü was thought to be the most likely candidate to take the helm of the Naval Forces Command. Observers believe the reason behind his retirement was his links to Ergenekon. According to a National Intelligence Organization (MİT) document, Öğütçü was one of the founders of the Karargah houses, which the Ergenekon investigation has revealed were meeting spots for generals plotting a coup in addition to housing hit men and serving as storage places for munitions.

Öğütçü was implicated in the placement of blocks of TNT and other explosives at the bottom of a submarine exhibited at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum. The explosives were found by police in July based on a plan outlined in the Cage plot. The explosives were to be detonated while a group of students visited the museum.