Turkey indicts 357 in military spy case

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ISTANBUL, Turkey, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Turkish authorities say they have indicted 357 suspects allegedly involved in a spy ring that used sex workers to blackmail targeted military officers.

The charges Tuesday were the result of the Izmire court's investigation into military espionage that began in 2009, Hurriyet Daily News reported. The spy ring allegedly sought information about military radar installations, the newspaper said.

The indictment accused the suspects of "gaining military information through blackmail."

The suspects allegedly spied on officers' bedrooms, sent sex workers to officers' homes and listened to private phone conversations.

Hurriyet Daily News said the information collected includes the identity numbers, family records and passport numbers for Deputy Prime Ministers Bulent Arinc and Ali Babacan.

Eighty-eight of the suspects are under arrest, and those indicted include more than 50 active-duty officers and 19 women, Hurryiet Daily News said.

Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for the leader of the alleged gang, businessman Bilgin Ozkaynak, and Narin Korkmaz, a university student alleged to be a top member of the gang.

Prosecutors also are seeking a six-year prison term for Navy Vice Adm. Veysel Kosele, who was arrested in September on charges he allegedly revealed confidential information without receiving prior approval from the general staff.