Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The three ministers of the Turkish government whose sons' names are mentioned in connection with a corruption scandal, told the Turkish Prime Minister of their intention to resign, Radical newspaper reported citing diplomatic sources today.
Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Interior Minister Muammer Guler and Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar told the Turkish Prime Minister about their pending resignation. Turkish media also wrote about a fourth minister who also told the Prime Minister about his resignation, but did not name the person, according to the newspaper.
Turkish police have recently conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara, resulting in the arrest of 52 people that include businessmen and sons of some ministers.
The businessmen are accused of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.
Sons of Interior Minister Muammer Guler - Baris Guler, Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan - Salih Kaan Caglayan, and Minister of Environment and Urban Planning Erdogan Bayraktar - Oguz Bayraktar are said to be among those arrested. All three were detained on suspicion of corruption.
The ministers are members of the Turkish ruling party.
Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality, Mustafa Demir, director general of Turkish Halkbank Suleyman Aslan and well known entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu were arrested during the same operation by police. Searches were conducted at Halkbank's office.
Senior police officers investigating the corruption scandal have recently been dismissed in Turkey.
Translated by NH
Edited by SM