Turkish police Tuesday arrested a further 31 staff of Turkish petrochemical producer Petkim in connection with the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, Turkey's state news agency Anatolia reported.
The 31 included deputy CEO Muhammet Altay Ozgur, corporate communications manager Memduh Taslicali, and the company's head of security retired colonel Serhat Ozmilli.
Anatolia said that 16 of the 31 were remanded in custody and noted that a previous operation at Petkim 10 days ago had resulted in Petkim CEO Saadetin Korkut being arrested and 200 staff members being removed from their posts, accused of connections to the group which Ankara blames for organizing the coup.
Petkim's parent company Socar last week denied that 200 staff had been removed from their posts, issuing a disclosure to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (BIST) reporting that only 27 staff members had been suspended.
Petkim issued a disclosure to the BIST Tuesday stating that production at its Aliaga plant had not been affected by the police investigation.
Socar officials were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
