The CEO of Turkish plastics and chemicals maker Petkim Petrokimya Holding A.Ş has stepped down and at least 19 employees at the firm have been detained in connection with the government's investigation into the country's July 15 failed coup, Turkish media reported.
Petkim CEO Sadettin Korkut stepped down July 27 in connection with the coup probe, and a further 19 employees were detained Aug. 2, according to the Istanbul-based Hurriyet Daily News.
The newspaper reported that police said they have arrest warrants for a total of 31 people at the company.
Petkim, which is based in the city of Izmir, is owned by the Azerbaijan state oil company Socar. The company said Anar Mammadov, who is also the head of Socar's Greek subsidiary, replaced Korkut.
The Turkish government accuses the U.S.-based Islamic cleric and scholar Fethullah Gülen of orchestrating the attempted coup, in which more than 200 people were killed and 2,000 injured.
Turkish state media said 62,000 people have been suspended from jobs at companies and organizations throughout the country as a result of the investigation of the coup.
Petkim is the dominant petrochemical producer in Turkey, making a range of plastics, including polyethylene, polystyrene, PVC and polypropylene, according to a report from the European Chemical Industry Council, Cefic.
The company said the investigation would have no impact on its business activities.
