Former staff of terrorist group’s schools gives details on how they stole money through charity and tax exemptions
Former staff of schools owned by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) revealed how they deceived the people of Turkey once more by collecting fake aid money and using tax exemptions in Ethiopia.
The schools working for the terrorist group behind the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey created a diversion by making up Ethiopian names and collecting fake signatures to make it seem that the aid was distributes to those in need, according to former staff who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security reasons.
Last week, a complaint was filed against the administration and teachers of the FETO school, as well as members of the terror group, over charges including "stealing aid money, embezzlement, and tax evasion".
A large stack of documents and evidence were submitted to the prosecutor.
The former staff and students told Anadolu Agency the details of how the organization embezzled the money collected from the Turkish and Ethiopian people as to help the needy.
M.T., a former student at the school, said five years ago, the school handed out blank papers to over 30 students in the dormitories and were asked to make up at least 250 Ethiopian names each and sign them.
“Then these papers were shown as help to the public. Although we were uncomfortable with what was going on, we couldn't do anything because we were afraid.
“They frequently used to tell us that they have people in the police and government offices. Anyone who put their signature is a witness,” said the former student.
M.T. also said the terror group initially began operating under the Omeriye Educational and Medical Foundation Charitable Trust in Ethiopia and was privileged a tax-free import of goods to the country.
The former student said the tax-free goods pretended to obtained for schools or charity were sold in the black market with help from Turkish traders affiliated to them.
M.T. noted that he personally witnessed the schools importing furniture with a tax exemption of 3 million Ethiopian birr (around $108,000), but none of it was used in the schools.
Another witness, V.A., who worked in the FETO schools said the organization used to deceive people saying that they helped 200 people, when in reality they only aided two people.
V.A said, “I asked why they were doing such things several times. They were bothered when I kept asking questions.”
FETO-linked 'Kimse Yok Mu' Relief Foundation used to come during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha, V.A noted.
"The school administration used to prepare livestock to be sacrificed before they [Kimse Yok Mu] arrived. They wrote much higher prices than the ones they bought on paper. They also reported that they sacrificed 1,000 animals whereas they only sacrificed 100.”
The former employee said the terror group’s illegal operations in Ethiopia were designed and used to be carried out by so-called “imam” of Ethiopia Murat Yildirim.
Adnan Azak, known as the former so-called "British Imam" of the terror group, has taken over the operations in the region.
Azak has been visiting Ethiopia frequently since last year. It is known that the schools in the East African nation are managed by Celil Aydin who has lived in the country for years.
V.A. added, “Celil Aydın is the director of the schools. He is also the brain of all the illegal business. How knows very well how to be corrupt and deal with the administrators.”
Defeated coup, schools abroad
FETO has been accused elsewhere of moving around its assets around in shell games to protect its illegal gains from prosecutors, as shown in a 2016 case in the U.S. state of New Jersey also involving schools.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including the military, police, and education.
FETO also has a considerable presence outside Turkey, including private educational institutions that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group.
