Turkish 'Cult' leader sentenced to 1,075 years in prison

Istanbul:Turkish court sentences cult leader to 1,075 years in prison for "imprisoning" underage girls, whom he called his 'girlfriends'. 69,000 condoms were found in his home.The cult leader was sentenced to more than 1,000 years in prison for sexually abusing more than a 1,000 people, including girls. Adnan Akhtar, the cult leader used to call women who were forced to live with him as 'kittens'.

Women who danced with him in half-naked clothes and regularly lined up in television studios were sexually abused. He and about 200 of his followers, who lived as a separate group, were taken into custody by the Turkish government in 2018. His statements in court, including that he had high sexual potency and his love for women, were noted.

The suspect was arrested by the Financial Crimes Unit of Istanbul Police. He was convicted of sexual offenses, fraud, political and military espionage. Akhtar's two other members of the group has also been sentenced to 200 years in prison.

The indictment also alleges that he had a relationship with Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish scholar who settled is in the United States. The accused, however, has denied the allegation. A total of 236 people faced the trial. The confession of the accused before the court was a big news in the Turkish media.

The accused had made his first headlines in the country and abroad in the 1990s. He entered the scene as a gang leader known for its sex crimes. He also ran an online television channel that showed a lot of such scenes. He also authored a book, The Atlas of Creation, under the name Akhtar Haroon Yahya.