Five active duty military officers, including two admirals, were arrested on Thursday, September 22, on suspected links to an alleged military plot aiming to overthrow the government.

Today's Zaman reported that Adm. Fikret Güneş, Rear Adm. Sadi Ünsal, Col. Koray Eryaşa, Col. Sencer Başat and Maj. Cem Çağlar were questioned by prosecutors conducting an investigation into the Sledgehammer coup plot on Wednesday and were referred to the court for arrest later on in the day. The 12th High Criminal Court announced its decision on the suspects early on Thursday and arrested the five military officers.

The military members were sent to the Hasdal Military Prison in Istanbul.

The suspects were jailed over their connection to confidential documents seized in December of last year. The documents, which are thought to pertain to the Sledgehammer Security Operation Plan, a suspected coup plan that allegedly sought to undermine the government in order to lay the groundwork for a military takeover, are believed to have been compiled by a prostitution racket accused of using blackmail to extract vital state security information from high-ranking military officers and senior bureaucrats with the intention of selling it to foreign intelligence services.

Confidential documents seized from the Gölcük Naval Command were found to include copies of the Sledgehammer Security Operation Plan as well as the Oraj (Thunderstorm), Suga, Sakal (Beard) and Çarşaf (Chador) plans -- all sub-plots in the Sledgehammer plan.

Currently, there are nearly 200 retired and serving members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) who are under arrest on charges of involvement in the Sledgehammer plan. All of the suspects are accused of a failed attempt to destroy Parliament and overthrow the government. Such a charge calls for a jail sentence of up to 20 years in prison.