Turkey Delays Discussion Of Lifting Ex-Ministers Immunities

Baku, Azerbaijan, April 23



By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:



Turkey's parliament has postponed discussion on deprivation of immunity of former ministers implicated in a corruption scandal.



The discussion of lifting immunities from former -Interior Minister Muammar Guler, former Economy Minister Zafar Caglayan, former Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagish, and former Minister Environmental and Urban Development Erdogan Bayraktar was postponed indefinitely, the Sabah Turkish newspaper reported.



At present time, Istanbul prosecutor's office is preparing a new appeal to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in connection with the abolition of immunity of former ministers.



The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office submitted a relevant appeal to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Feb. 28.



Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on December 17, 2013, resulting in the arrest of several dozen people including businessmen and the sons of some ministers.



Among those detained were the sons of some ministers who are the members of Turkey's ruling party - Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's son, Salih Kaan Caglayan, Interior Minister Muammar Guler's son, Baris Guler and Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar's son, Oguz Bayraktar.



Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality Mustafa Demir and Director General of the Turkish Halkbank Suleyman Aslan were arrested during the same operation by police. The detainees were accused of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.



The corruption scandal included the names of former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, former Minister for European Integration Egemen Bagıs, former Interior Minister Muammer Guler and son of former Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar.



Former director general of Turkish Halkbank and eight more detained businessmen were released on Feb. 14.



On February 28, the Turkish prosecutor's office made a decision to release the detainees, namely Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab, son of former Interior Minister Muammar Guler - Baris Guler and son of former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan - Salih Kaan Caglayan.



Translated by S.I.



Edited by C.N.