TÜB

The first hearing of a case into officials from Turkey's top science body and top telecommunications authority on charges of illegally wiretapping the encrypted phones of high-ranking state officials, including then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, was held before the Ankara 2nd Heavy Penal Court on July 13.

The former head of Turkey?s top science body and two of its employees were detained on April 14 for hiring an employee with a fake diploma, amid allegations of illegal wire-tapping targeting senior government officials.

Four out of 11 suspects were arrested on Jan. 22 as a part of a vast espionage investigation, which includes allegations of illegal wiretapping of top ranking state officials, including the prime minister.