Turkish Spies Capture Tycoon Selahaddin Gulen in Nairobi

The whereabouts of a Nairobi-based Turkish tycoon who was kidnapped in the Kenyan capital early last month has been established.

Selahaddin Gulen was abducted by unknown people while heading to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi on May 3rd.

Selahaddin was captured and flown back to his country by Turkish spies, media and family confirmed on Monday.

Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported that Selahaddin was brought back to Turkey by agents from Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

He is accused of being a member of the outlawed Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which the Turkish government claims is led by Selahaddin’s uncle Fettullah Gulen.

“Mr. Selahaddin Gulen who is a relative of FETO's ringleader Fetullah Gulen fled abroad with help of the group's covert structure," Anadolu quoted MIT.

Fettullah, who sought asylum in the US, is accused of orchestrating a failed military coup in Turkey in 2016, which killed 251 people and injured more than 2,000.

Selahaddin was fighting his extradition through a lawsuit filed at Kiambu law courts. Turkey wanted him extradited over child molestation allegations. 

"It is suspected that my uncle may have supported the coup. Turkish authorities began a crackdown on all the people who were directly or indirectly related to Fetullah Gulen. His relatives in Turkey were arrested on fictitious criminal charges and are serving long prison sentences,” Selahaddin said in documents filed in court.